Mountain lions are popping up around North Texas. Be on ‘high alert,’ says wildlife expert
Over the last few weeks, mountain lion sightings in North Texas have been on the rise.
A mountain lion was spotted near Lake Dallas on Oct. 27. A few days later, on Nov. 1, the animal was spotted in Frisco. On Nov. 8, a mountain lion sighting was reported in Plano. Another sighting was reported Nov. 14 in Little Elm.
That’s four instances in less than three weeks, which is uncommon since mountain lion sightings are rare, said Randall Kennedy, founder of Dallas Fort Worth Wildlife Control.
“It’s very uncommon to see [a mountain lion], so be on high alert, but don’t be extreme about it,” Kennedy said.
Why have mountain lion sightings been on the rise?
Mountain lions have been known to venture into urban areas from time to time.
If any animal gets hungry enough, it’s going to do what it has to do to eat, Kennedy said. Whether that’s prowling neighborhood streets or unsuspecting backyards.
All four mountain lion sightings have been recorded at night, with no interactions with people or pets recorded, according to WFAA-TV.
Mountain lions are known for traveling great distances, and since all the sightings have been relatively in the same region, Kennedy believes that it could all be the same animal.
“My thought would be that maybe it is one,” Kennedy said.
What do mountain lions hunt?
Mountain lions have been known to hunt and kill small dogs and cats.
Another small animal that mountain lions have been known to hunt is roof rats, Kennedy said.
Do mountain lions attack humans?
Rarely, but it has happened before.
There have been under 30 confirmed fatal mountain lion attacks in the U.S. over the last century, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. In Texas, there is no record of a confirmed fatal mountain lion attack.
What to do if approached by a mountain lion
While run-ins with mountain lions are rare, Kennedy said people should stay alert and remember a few things:
- Face the mountain lion.
- Don’t run.
- Raise your arms up and enlarge yourself.
- Make a lot of noise.
- Stay calm.
- Carry some kind of protection.
- Proceed with extreme caution.
This story was originally published November 14, 2024 at 4:56 PM.
