TETON VILLAGE, Wyo. — While Christmas revelers might be listening for the sounds of reindeer hooves on rooftops, perhaps they should be keeping an ear out for mountain lion paws creeping through snow.
A mountain lion was caught on a security camera in Teton Village in the wee hours of Monday, Dec. 23. Tyler Shand, one of the front desk managers at Hotel Terra, recorded the video of the security footage that has since made the rounds.
In the video, the lion sniffs at the door of the hotel, then sets its sights on an animal sculpture in the snow. The Teton Village Mix Instagram account scored the action with the classic “Pink Panther Theme” by Henry Mancini.
Shand told Buckrail that he and his Hotel Terra colleagues had never encountered a mountain lion this close to the hotel before, and that they’re more likely to be spotted around the edges of Shooting Star Golf Club. Shand noted that he’d be extra vigilant for wildlife following this sighting.
Mountain lions are no strangers to the area. The big cats are present in both Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. They are known to be elusive, and they tend to travel solo, preferring rocky, rugged territory. The carnivores typically are active around dawn and dusk, coinciding with deer activity. See tips for recreating in mountain lion territory here.
Report any sightings to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Jackson office at 307-733-2321.
