The mountain lion passed through a school yard and then ran to a car wash where officers evacuated several customers and lowered the business’s security gate to trap the mountain lion. The lion was darted a second time, but immediately began to run again. The mountain lion took off and hit a fence, and was about to escape the perimeter fence, so officers shot and killed the mountain lion.

El Paso is situated near prime mountain lion habitat. The Rio Grande River is only about a mile from downtown El Paso and that the Franklin Mountains are close by. There have been infrequent sightings and reports of mountain lions within the city limits, and a TPWD game warden shot and killed a mountain lion in a west side neighborhood about 3 years ago. That area of El Paso backed up to a mountain range that provided habitat for mountain lions.

Here is the elk hunter’s description of the photo as it was forwarded around the world: “This is freaking scary. As you know I was alone when I downed this bull elk in North Dakota. I was using my camera’s timer attached to my shooting stick to give me enough time to get into the picture. I knew there were a lot of mountain lion sightings in the area but had no idea they would come in this close to people. He had to be within 10 feet of me and I didn’t even know it. I about crapped my pants when I looked at the pictures the next morning and saw he was there.”

So is it true. No! This photo is totally fake. For one, who uses a timer and does not look at their photos afterwords? Duh. Two, the mountain lion (photo #2)  was taken from a photograph snapped during February of 2008 by a wildlife biologist in California. So when someone ask if the mountain lion stalking an elk hunter is real or not, you inform them that the picture is a big fat fake.

While there have been reports of bobcat sightings in Frisco in recent years, all 3 people who saw the animal along the Frisco Commons Park trail say it was not a bobcat, but a mountain lion. Frisco Commons Park remains open, and parks management reminds residents and visitors that operating hours for all city parks are from dawn until dusk. Signs will be posted around the park alerting park visitors of the recent sightings. Everyone using the area is encouraged to use caution while in the area.

“Animal control staff has walked the area, and could not find evidence that a wild animal is living in the hiking trail area of Frisco Commons Park,” said Greg Carr, Animal Control Administrator. “More likely the animal is passing through. Staff will continue to monitor the area to make sure a wild animal is not sticking around.”

Here are a few mountain lion tips should you encounter a mountain lion.
First, when in mountain lion country carrying a sturdy walking stick with you. Next, make sure to pick up small children to prevent them from running and triggering an attack. Remember to stay calm, talk calmly, and slowly back away, keeping eye contact with the mountain lion. Do not run or turn your back. If the lion is aggressive, throw rocks or sticks, and speak firmly and loudly. And lastly, fight back if a lion attacks you. The survivors of lion attacks say these cats can be driven off by fighting back.

According to state wildlife biologist, mountain lions are solitary animals, and attacks on humans are rare. In fact, since 1980 there have been only 4 reports of mountain lion attacks on humans have been reported in Texas. A female mountain lion has a range of up to 80 to 100 square miles and a male has a range up to 200 square miles, so this caught could literally be gone tomorrow. Frisco residents will have to wait and see.

This mountain lion was killed in early November 2009 about 6 miles south of Junction, Texas. The hunter was looking to harvest a white-tailed deer during Texas’ General Season when this cougar walked by. The photo was taken at Kimble Processing in Junction. Mountain lion sightings and kills have increased in recent years as the cats expand their range eastward again.

Mountain lions, also commonly referred to as cougars, pumas, or catamounts, have a large distribution across North and Central America. In fact, the Mountain lion has the widest distribution of any wild cat, from Canada to South America. Formerly distributed throughout North America, the Mountain lion is now found mostly in the remote areas of the western U.S., as well as western Canada and much of Mexico. A small lion population still exists in southern Florida, where the species is considered an endangered animal.

In Texas, the mountain lion is found throughout the Trans-Pecos, as well as the brushlands of south Texas and portions of the Hill Country, partiulary from Kerr and Kimble County westward. Mountain lion sighting and kill reports indicate that mountain lions now occur in more counties than they did 10 years ago and appear to be expanding their range into central Texas. Cougar sightings have been increasing in the southwest portions of the Hill Country, so keep an eye out if you live, visit, or hunt out there.

Here are a couple of photos of a mountain lion harvested near Laredo, Texas, by white-tailed deer hunters during Texas’ General Hunting Season. The hunters were hunting on their deer lease when the big cat showed up on Saturday, November 7, 2009. Texas has many mountain lions sighted in the Trans-Pecos portions of west Texas, but South Texas ranks second in cougar sightings.

A mountain lion has never been known to attack a person in Texas. However, mountain lions have attacked small children when left unattended in mountain lion habitat in other states. Mountain lions attack by ambushing their prey. They either suffocate or break their prey’s neck. Lions prefer big game, but will eat smaller mammals if circumstances permit.