February 10, 2023 |
A potential mountain lion sighting near the Encampment school this week turned out to be a false alarm.
The potential threat prompted Encampment officials to lock down the school.
On Tuesday afternoon, an Encampment resident claimed to have spotted a mountain lion eating a deer carcass on the west side of the Encampment K-12 School. After reporting the incident to the police, the school issued a lockdown at 1:35 p.m. Local law enforcement and Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel searched for the big cat.
WGFD Wildlife Biologist Teal Cufaude said Game Warden Levi Wood tracked the animal to a house in town. Turns out, it wasn’t a mountain lion after all, but a local dog.
The mountain lion was someone’s pet: a large breed dog. After the discovery was made, the school ended their lockdown. The entire ordeal took around 40 minutes to resolve.
Mountain lion sightings are not uncommon in the Platte Valley. The cats are on the move in winter searching for prey. Their hunts may bring them into town. The big cants can be a danger to humans and their pets. Wyoming Game and Fish Department is responsible for removing the predators, including by lethal means if necessary.
Last week, a mountain lion was spotted in Saratoga at the hot pools. A deer carcass was discovered near the sighting. A search for the animal proved unsuccessful. Cufaude said the lion hasn’t reappeared.
During Tuesday’s Saratoga Town Council meeting, Mayor Chuck Davis said the mountain lion isn’t the town’s only animal-related issue. He said he will meet with officials to address wildlife concerns.
The whereabouts of the cat reportedly spotted in Saratoga are unknown. It may have moved on. Residents across the Platte Valley should be aware that the harsh winter and deep snows could drive predators into human occupied areas.
