By Terry Thompson, Regional Communications Manager
Friday, November 6, 2020 – 3:47 PM MST

A family dog was attacked and taken by a mountain lion east of Carey, Idaho on November 5, 2020.

Fish and Game officials received a report from a southern Idaho family that their dog was attacked and taken by what was described as a mountain lion. The reported attack occurred on Thursday evening, November 5, 2020 approximately 17 miles east of Carey, Idaho along Highway 20. The family reported visiting the Wild Rose Hot Springs which sits on private property along Highway 20. While in the hot springs with their small dogs nearby, a mountain lion grabbed a family dog. The lion took the dog, which was not found.

Anyone who chooses to access this area is encouraged to be vigilant and be aware of their surroundings, especially during early morning and evening hours. Mountain lions are typically shy animals and avoid people, but they have been known to be attracted by small animals or pets that they perceive as potential prey.

Personal safety
Wildlife managers agree that if a person is in close proximity to a lion, meaning they see it, they should:

• NEVER run away from a mountain lion. The lion’s instinct is to chase and ultimately catch what they perceive as a potential prey.
• NEVER turn your back on a lion. Always face them while making yourself look as large as you can. Yell loudly, but don’t scream. A high-pitched scream may mimic the sound of a wounded animal.
• SLOWLY back away while maintaining eye contact with the lion.
• Safety equipment you may choose to carry could include bear spray, a noise device, like an air-horn, and if you walk in the dark, a very bright flashlight.
• If you are attacked, fight back!

Remember to use all of your senses to detect if a mountain lion is near. Using a light to help you see your surroundings is very important, whether it is on trails or in your yard, or as you walk in your neighborhood. If you run or bike for personal fitness, use caution when wearing headphones which take away your ability to hear if a lion, or any other wildlife, is giving you signals that you’re too close.

Pet safety
Mountain lions are opportunistic predators, meaning they don’t know when their next meal will happen, and will often attempt to take prey when it presents itself. A lion may perceive a pet as prey. To keep pets safe, owners are strongly encouraged to follow these safety tips:

• Keep your pets on a leash.
• Watch the pets’ behavior, since they may sense the lion before you can actually see them.

Reporting mountain lion sightings and encounters
Any mountain lion incident that results in an attack should be immediately reported to the Magic Valley Regional Office at (208) 324-4359 during business hours, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. If after hours, local conservation officers can be reached by calling the Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) hotline at 1-800-632-5999.

Mountain lion sightings and observations should be reported to the Fish and Game, Magic Valley Regional Office at (208) 324-4359.

By Terry Thompson, Regional Communications Manager
Sunday, October 18, 2020 – 3:51 PM MDT

A bull elk became entangled in a hammock south of Ketchum forcing Fish and Game biologists to anesthetize the elk to safely remove the hammock.

On Monday afternoon, October 12, 2020 dispatchers with Blaine County Sheriff began to receive numerous calls about a bull elk in distress near the Meadow’s Trailer Park south of Ketchum, Idaho. Two Blaine County Sheriff deputies arrived to find a large bull elk struggling to keep its head above water while standing in the Big Wood River. The elk had become entangled in what appeared to be a hammock that was now intertwined within its antlers.

A hammock tangled in the antlers of a bull elk nearly caused it to drown in the Big Wood River.

A local Fish and Game officer arrived shortly after and worked with the deputies to get the bull onto a nearby island.

Due to the late hour, darting and anesthetizing the elk so the hammock could be safely removed was determined to be too risky to both the elk and Fish and Game staff.

A hammock became entangled in the antlers of a bull elk south of Ketchum.

Shortly after daybreak on Tuesday, October 13 the elk was found in the same area. Fish and Game biologists arrived to dart the bull elk with an anesthetizing drug, allowing for the safe removal of the hammock from the elk antlers. Within minutes of the injection of the reversal drug, the elk was back up and grazing on grasses.

Biologists anesthetized a bull elk to remove a hammock entangled in its antlers.

“It is not uncommon for bull elk or moose to get entangled in household items during the fall rut” said Conservation Officer Brandyn Hurd, “residents should be aware of things that can entangle in elk or moose antlers and store them in a safe area if there is the potential of elk or moose being in their yard.”

Shortly after anesthetizing to remove a hammock, the elk quickly recovers.
During the breeding season, a rutting bull can become especially active and aggressive. In town or residential settings they may catch or thrash their antlers against wires, nets, swing sets, hammocks, cords and Christmas lights, which can lead to entanglements. Entangled wildlife can sometimes asphyxiate, die from exhaustion, or injure themselves in efforts to get free.

For more information about how to keep the area around your home safe for wildlife contact your local Fish and Game office.

By Terry Thompson, Regional Communications Manager
Friday, September 4, 2020 – 5:26 PM MDT

An aggressive cow moose bluff charged a family out hiking in the Adams Gulch area north of Ketchum on September 4, 2020. Hikers are encouraged to be alert when hiking area trails.

On Friday, September 4, 2020 Fish and Game received a report of an aggressive cow moose that bluff charged a family in the Adams Gulch area north of Ketchum on Friday, September 4. A family of three with a baby in a stroller and two leashed dogs was hiking along the creek when a cow moose charged the family. An adult male put himself between the charging moose, yelling and raising his arms, which stopped the charge, just short of the family.

Cow moose pictured

Hikers in the Adams Gulch area should use caution when hiking in the area. Always give moose a wide berth when you encounter them when recreating throughout southern Idaho. Moose, like any wildlife, can become agitated if they feel you are a threat

“Moose are very large animals and can be extremely dangerous when agitated” stated conservation officer Brandyn Hurd, “even though they are large animals they are extremely fast, and will use their front hooves to strike out at whatever they view as a threat.”

Residents are reminded to never allow your dog to have the opportunity to chase a moose. Dogs can be viewed as a threat, especially if they were to try and chase a moose, which is why residents are always strongly encouraged to keep their dogs on leash.

When hiking, make noise to announce your presence so you do not surprise a moose, or any wildlife. Do not hike or trail run with headphones or ear buds. Most wildlife will give out some kind of warning sounds prior to an attack or aggression. Wearing headphones or ear buds eliminates your extremely valuable sense of hearing.

If a hiker encounters a moose they should watch the behavior of a moose, looking for signs of agitation or stress. If a moose lays their ears back, that means they are stressed and could charge at any time, as does when the hair on their neck raises. Moose will often snort or grunt, or stomp their hooves if they are stressed or feel threatened. If you see any of these behaviors the best course of safety is to put something between you and the moose – like a tree or a vehicle if you’re near something that could be a barrier.

There are times when a moose might be more apt to charge a person or dog:

• Never put yourself between a cow and calf
• During the mating rut, males can become very agitated.
• In late winter when moose are coming out of a long winter, food is scarce and their fat reserves are depleted. This is a stressful time for moose as well as other wildlife.

Reports of aggressive moose, or any wildlife should be made to the Magic Valley Regional Office at (208) 324-4359. If after hours, reports can be made to the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office at (208) 788-5555.

By Terry Thompson, Regional Communications Manager
Monday, August 24, 2020 – 3:45 PM MDT

A mountain lion attacked and killed a horse near Hailey, Idaho while pastured in Croy Creek Canyon.

Blaine County Emergency Communications received a report in the early morning hours of Sunday, August 23, 2020 of a reported attack on a horse in the Red Elephant Gulch region of Croy Creek, west of Hailey, Idaho. Fish and Game officers investigated the report on Sunday morning, and with assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, confirmed the older mare was killed by a mountain lion while on pasture grounds.

Traps have been set in an effort to locate the mountain lion responsible for the attack.

Residents are reminded to be vigilant for wildlife, such as mountain lions, throughout the Wood River Valley. While not a typical prey source, livestock is sometimes opportunistically taken by mountain lions.

Personal safety in mountain lion country
Mountain lions have been living in the Wood River Valley long before human development began. Most residents, even those who have lived there for years, have never observed one. However, we continue to hear from residents that they are now seeing these secretive cats as they pass through their neighborhoods. Some reports include sightings of lions during daylight hours, which is not typical behavior.

• Wildlife managers agree that if a person is in close proximity to a lion, meaning they see it, they should:
• NEVER run away from a mountain lion. The lion’s instinct is to chase and ultimately catch what they perceive as potential prey.
• NEVER turn your back on a lion. Always face them while making yourself look as large as you can. Yell loudly, but don’t scream. A high-pitched scream may mimic the sound of a wounded animal.
• SLOWLY back away while maintaining eye contact with the lion.
• Safety equipment you may choose to carry could include bear spray, a noise device, like an air-horn, and if you walk in the dark, a very bright flashlight.
• If you are attacked, fight back!

Remember to use all of your senses to detect if a mountain lion is near. Using a light to help you see your surroundings is very important, both in your yard, or as you walk in your neighborhood. If you run or bike for personal fitness, use caution when wearing headphones which take away your ability to hear if a lion, or any other wildlife, is giving you signals that you’re too close.

Report mountain lion sightings and encounters
Wood River Valley residents and visitors should immediately report any encounter that results in an attack to the Magic Valley Regional Office at (208) 324-4359 during business hours, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. If after hours, local conservation officers can be reached by calling the Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) hotline at 1-800-632-5999.

Reports can also be made to the Blaine County Sheriff at (208) 788-5555.

Mountain lion sightings and observations should be reported to the Fish and Game, Magic Valley Regional Office at (208) 324-4359.

By Terry Thompson, Regional Communications Manager
Tuesday, August 18, 2020 – 1:54 PM MDT

Black bears in the Wood River Valley are getting food rewards from residential garbage containers, presenting a public safety risk when bears become food-conditioned.

Black bears, some with cubs, continue to find unsecured residential garbage throughout the Wood River Valley leading to food-conditioned bears. During the early morning hours of August 17, a large sow and cub were found in the Warm Springs area, with the sow gaining access to at least four unsecured garbage cans. Blaine County Sheriff’s Office deputies and a Fish and Game officer monitored the sow and cub throughout the early morning hours to encourage them to leave the neighborhood. Near daybreak, both bears wandered into the surrounding timber.

A residential garbage container became a source of food for a food-conditioned black bear in Ketchum

To help prevent black bears from becoming food-conditioned, it is the responsibility of every resident to secure their garbage in a garage or locked shed. Ketchum Mayor Neil Bradshaw offered this advice to Ketchum residents, “These bears necessitate a change in our behavior. We urge all Ketchum residents, especially those in the Warm Springs neighborhood, to do their part by securing garbage overnight. It is our priority to keep our residents and visitors safe and our wildlife wild.”

While a bear learns quickly to associate a food-reward with a residential garbage can, it is extremely difficult to change that learned behavior. The solution is to never let a black bear learn that a garbage can is a place to find food. In the case of the Warm Springs bears, the cub is now learning the negative behavior of a food-conditioned bear. If garbage continues to be left out, and these bears are repeatedly rewarded with human-provided food, the Department may find it necessary to euthanize both bears if they become a threat to public safety. Relocation has been unsuccessful in most scenarios, and the cub is currently too young to survive without the sow.

“It’s pretty straight-forward” according to conservation officer Brandyn Hurd, “keeping residential garbage out of reach of a bear can significantly reduce the chances of a bear becoming food-conditioned. We all know the saying, a fed bear is a dead bear. Our goal continues to be keeping our bears wild by not allowing them to get a food reward from people.”

To keep Wood River Valley bears wild, remember these important steps:

• Keep all household garbage secured in a garage or other enclosed area.
• Put your garbage container curbside on the morning of pickup, NOT the night before.
• Leftovers or discarded fish or meat bones give off a strong odor and should be stored in your freezer until the day of garbage pickup.
• Keep attractants like B-B-Q grills, bird seed or pet food stored where bears cannot find them.
• Bird feeders should be taken down May through October or placed well out of reach of bears.

Your actions to keep food away from bears will keep you, your neighbors and your pets safe by not creating a food-conditioned bear.  Furthermore, it could help save the life of the bear.  Additional resources on how to eliminate attractants and keep bears wild can be found at: https://bearwise.org/bear-safety-tips/keep-bears-out/

For more information about how to live safely in bear country, contact your local Fish and Game office.