{"id":34169,"date":"2023-05-05T14:56:53","date_gmt":"2023-05-05T20:56:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/mountain-lion-spends-lazy-day-lounging-in-tree-at-garden-of-the-gods-park\/"},"modified":"2023-05-05T20:56:53","modified_gmt":"2023-05-05T20:56:53","slug":"mountain-lion-spends-lazy-day-lounging-in-tree-at-garden-of-the-gods-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/mountain-lion-spends-lazy-day-lounging-in-tree-at-garden-of-the-gods-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Mountain lion spends lazy day lounging in tree at Garden of the Gods Park"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"A
A mountain lion was spotted in a cottonwood tree in Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs April 29. Park officials say it\u2019s \u201cextremely rare\u201d to see a mountain lion midday in the busy park that attracts 4 million visitors a year. (Anna Cordova\/Garden of the Gods interim manager)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

COLORADO SPRINGS \u2013 A mountain lion spent a lazy Saturday lounging in the branches of a cottonwood tree last weekend as hundreds of people explored the sandstone pillars of Garden of the Gods, one of the state\u2019s busiest parks.<\/p>\n

While lion sightings are nothing new in the western foothills here, glimpsing one during the day in a park that attracts 4 million people a year is \u201cextremely rare,\u201d the park officials say. The park said Thursday it plans to warn guests to be on the lookout, though there\u2019s unlikely to be a repeat midday visit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think this is probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing,\u201d Anna Cordova, Garden of the Gods interim manager and city archaeologist, said. The park\u2019s senior ranger, who has patrolled Garden of the Gods for more than a decade, said she has never seen more than a glimpse of a mountain lion in the park, let alone one lounging in a tree.<\/p>\n

The adult mountain lion stayed in the tree all day, feet from unsuspecting hikers on Ute Trail and climbers in the popular Snake Pits bouldering area, likely after feasting on a deer, Cordova said.<\/p>\n

A ranger found the mountain lion about 6 a.m., shortly after the sun rose and he heard the yipping of coyotes in a meadow dotted with cottonwoods.<\/p>\n

The park was already bustling with cyclists, roller skaters and runners for its \u201cMotorless Mornings\u201d event, when the park closes off its roads to vehicle traffic, from 5 a.m. to noon. Visitors reported the coyotes were running in circles, Cordova said.<\/p>\n

The ranger walked to the area to investigate and found a deer carcass stashed next to a cottonwood tree, Cordova said. High in its branches, he saw the mountain lion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is just my guess, of course, but he probably ate quite a bit and was feeling pretty tired and lazy, just trying to digest, and climbed up the tree,\u201d Cordova said. The elusive cats are known to hunt deer in the area, but are most active during dawn and dusk.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had so many people in the park so early on. He likely didn\u2019t feel comfortable coming down with dogs and people and all kinds of stuff all over the place.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Garden of the Gods staff suspected a mountain lion was in the area weeks earlier after finding another deer carcass. They had not seen the mountain lion since, she said.<\/p>\n

The sighting comes as many living in the high country are on alert for mountain lions after a string of attacks on dogs in and around Nederland. One mountain lion clawed a man hot-tubbing in a backyard near Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort in March, leaving four superficial scratches on his head and ear.<\/p>\n

Mountain lion activity common in the area<\/p>\n

Colorado Parks and Wildlife hasn\u2019t seen an increase in mountain lion activity in southern Colorado, a spokesman said, and described the behavior of the mountain lion seen in Garden of the Gods as typical.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn fact, the lion did exactly what lions and bears will do \u2013 sit in a tree until dark or the danger has passed,\u201d CPW spokesman Bill Vogrin said.<\/p>\n

Mountain lions are pretty common in Colorado Springs because of the high deer population, which are a lion\u2019s main source of food.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a big reason CPW has urged communities to reduce their resident deer populations,\u201d Vogrin said. \u201cThe deer are a threat to human health and safety because they cause so many automobile accidents and because they attract predators into communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

More people moving into mountain lion habitats and running and hiking where mountain lions live is also driving up interactions between humans and cats, according to CPW.<\/p>\n

Garden of the Gods is home to a variety of species, including nesting raptors, a great horned owl, red-tailed hawk, big-horned sheep, black bears and deer, which lure mountain lions to the area. The park has reported a few rattlesnake bites, typically from people wandering off trail, Cordova said, but no other wildlife attacks in recent years, she said.<\/p>\n

Cordova is urging visitors to respect wildlife and observe animals from a distance using Leave No Trace principles and \u201cthe thumb rule.\u201d If you hold your thumb up at an arm\u2019s length away from your face, your thumb should completely cover the animal. If not, you\u2019re too close.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course Garden of the Gods Park is important to all kinds of people but it\u2019s extremely important to wildlife and its habitat for those creatures as well,\u201d she said. \u201cWe always want to be respectful and protective of those as well, realizing that we\u2019re in their home.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Colorado Sun is a reader-supported, nonpartisan news organization dedicated to covering Colorado issues. To learn more, go to coloradosun.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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