Sheriff Frerichs: attacks on people are 'extremely rare'

SIDNEY -- A resident in the north side of Sidney woke to the sight of a mountain lion walking through his yard and adjacent street in the Sky Manor neighborhood at about 4:45 a.m.

Sam Wilson, Furbearer/Carnivore Program Manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, said the Game and Parks Commission confirmed there was a mountain lion "at the edge of Sidney on March 16" as seen on a security camera.

Young animals that are dispersing can cover many hundreds of miles and are typically of age (1-2 years) that end up moving through towns during their travels looking for a territory of their own, Wilson said in an email response. He said the general advice is to treat it like other wildlife and do not approach it. Slowly back away into an area of safety (car/house, etc.), and call 911 or local authorities so they can handle it. 

Cheyenne County Sheriff Adam Frerichs said there can be a variety of reasons why mountain lions can be seen in the county. He said there are typically one to four sightings per year. Most are seen on surveillance video or trail cams. Frerichs said he is aware of four sightings in towns in the last 10 years or so; two in Sidney and two in Lodgepole.

He said mountain lions are solitary animals, typically hunting and living alone. They are territorial and opportunistic feeders. 

When male mountain lions reach a certain age, usually puberty, they are kicked out of the pride and must find new hunting territory. That can bring them near urban areas such as Sidney. Pets can be at risk and every effort should be made to not let pets roam free or unattended from dusk until dawn.

Frerichs said a common misconception is that mountain lions roar. They actually cannot. However, they do give out a blood-curdling scream. Mountain lions are by nature, very timid and are easily scared off by noise and lights. They are especially fearful of people and will often avoid them whenever possible. Because of this fear, attacks on humans are extremely rare. 

Most people will never see a mountain lion on their daily hike, jog or bike ride in Cheyenne County. Mountain lion researchers stress the importance of being aware of mountain lion behavior to avoid any unlikely encounters.