DENVER (KDVR) — The Boulder Police Department said a dog was killed by a mountain lion during an attack over the weekend.

The attack occurred on Friday around 9:30 p.m., according to a Boulder police post on X, when Boulder residents were walking their small dog in the 2400 block of Balsam Avenue before a mountain lion jumped on their dog.

Boulder police said the dog appeared to die instantly, and the mountain lion did not threaten the residents before taking the dog away.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife were notified of the situation. The next day, CPW and Boulder Police Animal Protection officers responded to the same area after another reported sighting of the mountain lion.

The responding parties believed that the dog from the night before or another animal was stored by the mountain lion nearby to eat later, citing it as the most common reason a mountain lion would remain in a specific area for a prolonged period of time.

After the officials monitored the areas for nearly two hours, the mountain lion left the bush where it was hiding and disappeared. Animal protection officers said they were able to recover the dog’s body from the nearby backyard so the family could have closure.

Police share tips to protect against mountain lions

The Boulder agency said that while mountain lion attacks are rare, the animals are common to Colorado and shared safety tips to keep in mind.

The agency recommends that anyone who meets a mountain lion:

Do not approach – most mountain lions will avoid a confrontation

Stay calm and talk in a firm voice to demonstrate you are not its regular prey

Back away slowly, as running could stimulate the mountain lion’s chase instincts

Face the lion and try to look as big as possible by spreading open your jacket or lifting objects

If the lion acts aggressively, throw rocks, sticks and any other items you can without turning your back on the lion or bending down

If the lion does attack, fight back: Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back

The agency noted that mountain lions are an established part of the Front Range ecosystem and called them territorial and solitary. The department said that removing or relocating mountain lions observed in the city does not reduce potential conflict, as if one lion leaves an area, it’s usually taken over by another lion.

The focus of the Boulder police’s actions on mountain lion mitigation is through education and awareness. The agency said that relocation or removal of the animals is reserved for lions that pose a direct threat to humans through abnormal or aggressive behavior.