Montana Fish, Wildlife Parks Issues Mountain Lion Safety Guidelines Following Pet Attack in Neihart
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) has issued updated safety guidelines for residents and visitors following a reported mountain lion attack on a pet in Neihart. Dave Hagengruber, Montana FWP Region 4 communications director, emphasized that while mountain lions are generally elusive and avoid human contact, encounters can occur, and knowing how to react is crucial for the safety of people and pets. Pets are particularly vulnerable as their size can make them potential prey. Hagengruber advises keeping pets indoors, close to the house, or under strict control when outdoors to minimize risk. Mountain lions are often drawn to areas with a high deer population, their primary food source, meaning they can be found in various environments, not just deep wilderness. They are most active during dawn, dusk, and at night, coinciding with deer activity. Despite their widespread presence across Montana's mountainous, wooded, and foothill regions, direct sightings are uncommon. As hunting seasons begin and more peop... 
