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Letter: Mountain lions a threat to pets in Williams

To the editor:

Last week, my son Jeff had the horror of watching his beloved Tigger, our cat of 12 years, being carried away by a mountain lion. The lion caught Tigger within five feet of the back door of our house. Tigger was still alive, struggling to get out of the lion's mouth. Jeff rushed the lion and yelled, but the lion simply kept moving. Jeff did everything he could do, but the lion went up into the trees with Tigger. Jeff informed us that Tigger was no more. The scary thing is that the lion didn't even run, but just kept moving to the tree line. Jeff said that the lion was not afraid of him.

Jeff contacted the police, who were very helpful in talking with him, and bringing some comfort. The next day, Jeff contacted Game and Fish, and one of the game wardens told Jeff that there was nothing he could do, since the lion didn't show aggression toward Jeff.

In the past week, we have been informed by two other neighbors that their pet cats have recently disappeared. We have heard that there have been other pets as well.

Of course, the lion was just doing what lions do. However, the normal prey would be deer and other wild animals. This particular lion, which Jeff said was huge, has found easy pickings right within our city limits. We were told by our neighbor that as early as December, they saw a large mountain lion in our front yard.

I'm writing this to say that if you live near the tree line in town, especially along the south side, please watch your pets. Also, if you have had a pet disappear, please report it to the police and game department. They have a difficult job making decisions with these kinds of incidents. Having a record is important.

My biggest concern isn't pets, however. It's that a lion this size, that has a propensity to be hunting food in our yards, could look, to, God forbid, a small child. With summer coming, kids play outside during the night hours. Since Game and Fish may not be able to act until the lion shows aggression toward humans, well, you see where this could lead. I don't want the aggression to have to happen before action is taken. That makes no sense.

Again, please report to Game and Fish and the Police Department, any confrontations or pet confrontations. Possibly a hunter with dogs could tree the lion and he could be darted and moved, or if need be, destroyed. It's not the lion's fault, that's nature. But sometimes animals cross the line, and action is needed.

Bill Sutton

Williams, Arizona


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