Cougar Up Close
Only Five Miles from Town

by Fred Hernandez

–WESTCLIFFE, Colo.
The summer day was coming to an end. It had been a hot afternoon and the early evening breezes drifting through the open window was a welcome change. Mike Kienbusch, Westcliffe resident, was alone at home five miles from town up Hermit Road.
Now, through the same window came the unmistakable sound of danger in the back yard. The chickens were desperately clucking away and Mike knew from previous events that there might just be a predator on his property. He picked up his ever-ready shotgun and made it out the door quickly. Sure enough, on the pathway towards the area where the chicken coop is located telltale signs of a struggle were evident at regular intervals ending with a clump of feathers just next to a scrub oak patch. Gun at the ready, Mike stooped to see what may lay hidden in the shrubs. With a shock he realized that from the green shadows a pair of yellow eyes glared back at him from a short distance of fifteen feet.
Instinctively, Mike swung the muzzle in the general direction and fired one shot. He reloaded immediately only to realize he only had the one shell in the chamber.
Panic now took over as he dashed back into the house for more ammo. After reloading the shotgun and picking up a 9 MM hand gun for extra protection, he ran back out into the yard. The big cat was no longer in the shrub.
Realizing he could now be the hunted one, Mike cautiously made his way slowly around the general area in search for what could now be a wounded predator. Nothing could be more dangerous, he thought.
A short distance away he spotted the cat lying motionless on the ground. Better safe than sorry Mike discharged one shot from the 9 MM into the lion to make sure it was a goner. Thankfully the first shot had been quite effective. That done, he immediately called Department of Wildlife and not long after an officer was on hand to make an assessment and report on the incident. The cat was a five-year-old male, as determined by the DOW officer, and weighed in at approximately 85 pounds.
All’s well that ends well but lest we forget; they do live among us. And, they can be dangerous.