Dog owner cited in Park lion incident

A Glacier National Park employee whose dog was mauled by a mountain lion on March 21 has been cited for failing to comply with regulations regarding control of pets within the Park.

The Park ranger who responded to the incident and shot the lion is also an owner of the dog.

Park spokeswoman Denise Germann said that an investigation concluded the employee did not maintain control of the pet and the ranger acted appropriately.

“The investigation concluded that the ranger, or any other ranger, would have acted in the same manner due to the rapidly evolving circumstances of the situation,” she said.

Chief Ranger Paul Austin reported that the sub-adult mountain lion displayed characteristics of habituation.

“The cat failed to flee the developed area after housing residents yelled and screamed, and rocks and logs were thrown at the cat,” he said. “We take this incident seriously, as many children were playing outside in the housing area at the time of the incident.”

The first priority for rangers must be the safety of employees and visitors, Austin said.

The Headquarters District had been posted for mountain lions over the winter months, and a lion was hazed in the employee housing area after it was spotted near homes and offices. Rangers believe additional lions may be frequenting the area.

Residents are allowed to keep pets while living in government-owned structures in Glacier Park, but they must comply with the same rules as visitors. In developed areas, like the Headquarters District, pets must be on a leash no longer than six feet, under physical restraint, or caged at all times, including while in open-bed pickup trucks.