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Editor's note:The video contains content that may be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is advised.SALT LAKE CITY — Mountain lions encounters are on the rise in Utah due to multiple factors, including habitat reduction due to human development.
Earlier this year, a mountain lion attacked two dogs in Summit Park. One dog, an Australian shepherd named Maizy, was killed in the attack. The second dog, a lab named Casper, survived.
A popular YouTube video reveals just how frightening these mountain lion encounters can be. The footage was apparently captured by a home security camera in an unspecified state during 2015 and shows a mountain lion enter a backyard and engage in a brutal fight with a Doberman pinscher.
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The large amount of blood at the scene indicates serious injuries to the dog, but it appears to have survived due to the collar preventing a fatal bite from the mountain lion. When the homeowner came outside to investigate, the big cat fled the scene.
At that point, the dog surprisingly leapt back to its feet. According to at least one report, the Doberman required 60 stitches following the attack.
The video serves as a grim reminder of the threat of mountain lion attacks on domestic pets. Here are some practical tips to reduce the danger:
- Keep your pets indoors from dusk to dawn
- Secure your pets in the yard with an enclosure, not a chain
- Feed your pets indoors
- Trim brush in your yard to reduce hiding places
- Install motion-activated lights around your house
Grant Olsen joined the KSL.com contributor team in 2012. He covers outdoor adventures, travel, product reviews and other interesting things. He is also the author of the book "Rhino Trouble." You can contact him at grantorrin@gmail.com.
