From our friends at the Elbert County Sheriff Office, we have learned of a mountain lion sighting in North West Elbert County. Although Mountain Lions won’t typically attack your horses, please be aware if you are in the area and take necessary precautions.

There has been a mountain lion sighting in NW Elbert County. The Sheriff’s Office and DOW are watching the Ponderosa Park area. Mountain lions are generally calm, quiet, and elusive. They tend to live in remote, primitive country. Lions are most commonly found in areas with plentiful deer and adequate cover. Such conditions exist in mountain subdivisions, urban fringes, and open spaces. Consequently, the number of mountain lion/human interactions has increased. This increase is likely due to a variety of reasons—more people moving into lion habitat, increase in deer populations and density, presumed increase in lion numbers and expanded range, more people using hiking and running trails in lion habitat, and a greater awareness of the presence of lions. The range of a lion can cover from 25 to over 700 miles. Due to this fact it has been our experience that lions tend to move on and aren’t sighted in the same area for extended periods of time. Please see the attached precautions and notify the Sheriff’s Office or DOW of any sightings. Please remember that you are well within your rights to protect yourself, your family and your animals if the situation arises. In doing so remember that your are responsible for the final resting place of your bullet and the safety of your neighbors if you choose to discharge a firearm.

~Elbert County Sheriff

For more information on mountain lions and people read: Living with Wildlife.