Possible Mountain Lion Encounter in Miami

Miami residents should be aware that there may be a mountain lion in the area.

Public Information Supervisor Tom Cadden, with the Arizona Game and Fish Department in Phoenix, said that on Tuesday, July 9 a man in the West Miami area found the remains of two goats he had been watching for a neighbor.

He called the Miami Police Department, which in turn contacted Game and Fish.

While the man did not see the animal, tooth marks found on the goats and tracks at the scene “suggested the animal that attacked them might have been a mountain lion,” Cadden said.

A Game and Fish officer spoke with the man, giving him information on “living with mountain lions, including tips on minimizing chances of a human-mountain lion conflict,” he said.

The officer also gave the man his phone number in case he spotted the mountain lion in the area again, Cadden said.

The following information was obtained from the Game and Fish website at www.azgfd.com:

What should I do if I see a mountain lion?

• Do not approach a mountain lion. Most wild animals will try to avoid a human confrontation. Give them a way to safely escape.
• Do not run from a mountain lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase.
• Stand and face the animal. Make eye contact.
• Protect small children so they won’t panic and run.
• Stay calm and speak loudly and firmly.
• Appear larger; raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Throw stones, branches or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly. The idea is to convince the mountain lion that you may be a danger to it.
• Slowly back away from the area.
• Fight back if attacked. Many potential victims have fought back successfully with rocks, sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools and their bare hands. Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the animal.

  To report a mountain lion sighting or encounter, call the Phoenix Game and Fish office at 602-942-3000 during weekday business hours. 

During non-business hours, call the Game and Fish radio dispatcher at 623-236-7201.

In the event of an attack, call 911.