Homeowners spot cougar in Alto

Here Kitty Kitty

From the Ruidoso News.com - Another mountain lion, or perhaps the same one seen two months ago, has been observed around homes in Alto Lakes. Pictures of the cougar show it next to a home, in a back yard and trekking along a driveway. The sighting happened a couple of weeks ago. A mountain lion that spent some time in the High Mesa Drive and Lake Shore Drive area of Alto Lakes in November and December was never caught by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department. A trap had been set to capture the lion, which showed no real fear of people.  "We extended the kill permit for that one," Mark Holguin, an officer with the department said Thursday. "We tried a couple of different things trying to call it in in the Alto area and we were unsuccessful." Holguin said the department had not received any more recent calls about mountain lions in that area until contacted by the Ruidoso News. Game and Fish Department District Supervisor Ben Byrd said when people see a cougar in residential areas they should notify the department. "If it's really acclimated to being around people, it may act like this," Holguin said of the large cat's apparent comfort with people. "In the grand scheme of things, it is pretty unusual, but if it's the same lion that's used to people then it's not too unusual in that regard." Holguin suggested that people who go for walks should do so in pairs because there is increased safety in numbers. He also recommended not allowing pets to roam around outside at night. Read more

Homeowners spot cougar in Alto