1/15/2009 4:38:00 PM Mountain lion kills pets in Bridgeport
This juvenile mountain lion was captured in a residential area near the Tuzigoot mesa area in March 2006.
Photo by Doug Von Gausig
Goat Survives Lion Attack: Colton Rios and his goat Sophie. The animal was stitched up after it was attacked last weekend by a mountain lion at the St. Joseph’s Montessori Catholic School in Bridgeport. The animal was able to stand again this week. A second goat died of injuries during the attack. One of two sheep was also put down at a private property across the highway on Oasis Drive. Arizona Game and Fish Spokesman Zenon Mocarski says the agency has also received credible information that a newborn calf was killed at a nearby ranch in the recent attacks. The cat reportedly killed and fed on the calf.
Some pet barnyard animals in Bridgeport had to be "put down" this weekend after they were attacked by what a game officer believes was a mountain lion. Mountain lions are secretive and no one saw the attacks.
Friday night, the cat got into a 15- by 18-foot animal enclosure behind the St. Joseph's Catholic School. Most of the students take animal husbandry and the school has a number of animals, including seven goats, rabbits and chickens. One goat was killed and a second was injured by the lion.
Students who feed the animals found the carnage first thing in the morning.
A neighbor "across the wash" told Principal Greg Kirkham that he heard a "commotion" that night. Kirkham says they have never had an incident like this before. He said he was very impressed that neighbors turned out so readily to help the school erect a more-secure chain link fence and sew up the injured animal.
On Monday night, a lion attacked some sheep at a private property on Oasis Drive on the opposite side of SR 89A from the school.
Homeowner Lisa Gray says the lion attacked one of her 6-year-old daughter's pet sheep and the animal was so badly injured that it had to be put down as well. A second sheep pet was also hurt.
The Arizona Fish and Game agent inspected the attack and found a clear paw print identifying the predator as a mountain lion.
He told the family that the cat seemed to be young and inexperienced at killing.
The Game and Fish Department has advice titled Tips for Living in Lion Country.
Individuals wishing to file a report of a mountain lion sighting may contact the Flagstaff office at (928) 774-5045.
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Article comment by:
abagale
Hi,
We have just added your latest post "Mountain lion kills pets in Bridgeport" to our Directory of Pets . You can check the inclusion of the post here . We are delighted to invite you to submit all your future posts to the directory and get a huge base of visitors to your website.
Warm Regards
Petgarden.info Team
http://www.petgarden.info
