WILSON, Wyo. — Three mountain lions were glimpsed on a security camera in Wilson on the afternoon of Thursday, July 11. Wilson residents are encouraged to be vigilant when spending time outdoors, keeping an eye out for the big cats.
The footage was shared among Wilson residents living just south of the town’s main drag, mostly as a safety measure. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s (WGFD) Jackson office was notified of the sightings.
Also known as pumas, cougars, catamounts or panthers, mountain lions are typically active around dawn and dusk, coinciding with deer activity. The carnivores are also known to eat porcupines, rabbits, squirrels, marmots, skunks and other small mammals. They are said to be elusive, and they tend to travel solo, preferring rocky, rugged territory.
Last summer, following an uptick in local sightings, WGFD Large Carnivore Specialist Dan Thompson spoke with Buckrail about mountain lion behavior in the region.
“Typically when we get an increase in sightings, we have a family group that disperses,” Thompson said. “When young disperse from their mother, they cover a lot of ground.”
Aggressive encounters with humans are not common for these animals, but surprising a mountain lion might result in injury. See these safety tips for recreating in mountain lion territory.
Report any sightings to the WGFD’s Jackson office at 307-733-2321.
