A mountain lion was on the prowl in Parker Wednesday night.
The Parker Police Department posted a photo of the mountain lion in the Hobby Lobby parking lot on their Facebook page. The store is near South Parker Road and Mainstreet.
According to the police department, someone called and reported seeing the mountain lion and a police sergeant at the scene was able to snap a photo of it.
The officers called Colorado Parks and Wildlife and followed the mountain lion, but it went into open space and ran away, according the Facebook post.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife website has the following suggestions if you encounter a mountain lion:
- Do not approach a lion, especially one that is feeding or with kittens. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
- Stay calm when you come upon a lion. Talk calmly and firmly to it. Move slowly.
- Stop or back away slowly, if you can do it safely. Running may stimulate a lion's instinct to chase and attack. Face the lion and stand upright.
- Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you're wearing one. If you have small children with you, protect them by picking them up so they won't panic and run.
- If the lion behaves aggressively, throw stones, branches or whatever you can get your hands on without crouching down or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly. What you want to do is convince the lion you are not prey and that you may in fact be a danger to the lion.
- Fight back if a lion attacks you. Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back. People have fought back with rocks, sticks, caps or jackets, garden tools and their bare hands successfully. Remain standing or try to get back up!
If you have an encounter with a mountain lion during normal business hours, contact the Colorado Parks and Wildlife office in your area:
- CPW? Headquarters (Denver): (303) 297-1192
- Northeast Region CPW Office (Denver): (303) 291-7227
- West Region CPW Office (Grand Junction): (970) 255-6100
- Southeast Region CPW Office (Colorado Springs): (719) 227-5200
- Southwest Region CPW Office (Durango): (970) 247-0855
If you see a mountain lion at night or during a weekend, contact the Colorado State Patrol or your local sheriff's office.
