A post on Reddit regarding a new sign that's cautioning the public about the presence of mountain lions at Jefferson County's Lair O' The Bear park is getting plenty of attention online, with questions being raised about why the sign has been installed and whether or not there's a major risk.
The OutThere Colorado team reached out to officials to get the scoop.
According to Jefferson County Parks and Conservation, the posting of the signage is merely protocol, stemming from the discovery of a mountain lion kill in a nearby area, believed by their spokesperson to be at Denver Parks and Recreation managed-Little Park.
Follow-up with Denver Parks and Recreation confirmed that their department was notified of a potential kill on Denver Mountain Parks land that is regularly patrolled by both Denver Mountain Parks and Jefferson County Open Space staff. This kill was described as "natural and expected behavior" given the mountainous and rugged terrain present in the area.
When it comes to the level of risk associated with the new signage, it doesn't seem to be a major concern for the public. Officials encouraged visitors to the area to maintain awareness regarding wildlife activity, which is something visitors should be doing regardless of whether or not the signage is present.
Mountain lions don't tend to be aggressive toward humans, often shying away from civilization. Mountain lion attacks on humans are extremely rare, generally occurring at a rate of less than one per year in Colorado.
That said, if a hiker does encounter a mountain lion, the best move is to slowly back away while facing the cat – never turn and run. That's typically enough to escape the encounter, but if a mountain lion does pursue or is displaying signs of aggressive, make noise and look as big as possible with outstretched arms in an upright position. Throw items in the direction of the animal if it approaches, but don't bend down to pick an object up. If a mountain lion is behaving aggressively, it generally means it's either protecting young or desperate for food, sometimes due to an injury.
Thousands of mountain lions are present around Colorado, and it's safe to assume that the predator may be present anywhere that prey is also found. While mountain lions shouldn't be feared as an active concern on the typical hike, it's important to stay alert and aware.
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