Sneaky predator spotted prowling around doorstep in Utah neighborhood, photos show
A rarely-seen creature was spotted prowling around a home’s doorstep in a neighborhood in Utah’s foothills, photos show.
A resident caught sight of the sneaky predator on the doorstep at about 6:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, near the Quiet Valley Community of Spanish Fork, according to a Facebook post from Spanish Fork Police, Fire & EMS.
The photos show a mountain lion as it appears to turn away from the doorstep and toward the camera, possibly before it gets ready to run off.
Police reminded residents to be cautious in the area and to keep a close eye on pets and children. Officers are working with wildlife officials from the Utah Department of Natural Resources to find the mountain lion.
It was the only confirmed mountain lion sighting in or near the community, a DNR spokesperson said.
“Because this community is near the foothills, this is a normal habitat area for mountain lions,” Faith Jolley told McClatchy News in an email. “Our biologists believe it is a young cougar just migrating through the area.”
Jolley provided tips for living with cougars in Utah. Police asked anyone with information to contact the department at 801-804-4700.
Residents discussed the sighting in the comments on the post.
“Poor guy; probably a youngster, little confused and lost,” someone said.
“That’s wild!” another person said. “Imagine going on a run early in the morning and finding yourself with a mountain lion.”
Someone replied saying they’ve seen about three mountain lions while running in the mountains, but didn’t expect to see one “only a few streets away” from their home.
Someone else simply wrote: “Yikes!”
Spanish Fork is about a 50-mile drive south from Salt Lake City.
What to do if you see a mountain lion
Mountain lions are typically “calm, quiet and elusive,” according to the National Park Service. While attacks involving mountain lions are rare, they are possible.
“Even so, the potential for being killed or injured by a mountain lion is quite low compared to many other natural hazards,” the National Park Service said on its website. “There is a far greater risk, for example, of being killed in an automobile accident with a deer than of being attacked by a mountain lion.”
Officials said there are some things you can do to prevent a mountain lion encounter from becoming an attack.
Stay calm and back away slowly.
Face the lion and stand up straight.
Don’t approach a mountain lion, especially if it’s with kittens.
Don’t run. It could stimulate a mountain lion’s chase instincts.
Pick up small children so they don’t panic or run away.
Don’t bend over or crouch down.
Throw things at the mountain lion if it continues to move toward you.
If the mountain lion attacks, fight back using anything around you.
Report all sightings, encounters or attacks to local park rangers or law enforcement.
This story was originally published October 11, 2024 at 2:13 PM with the headline "Sneaky predator spotted prowling around doorstep in Utah neighborhood, photos show."
