Mountain lion spotted in east Murray residential area

MURRAY — A mountain lion was spotted early Tuesday morning in a residential area and police say this isn’t the first sighting in the last few weeks.

Recently, there have been multiple cougar sightings in the east residential areas of Murray, police said.

Tuesday’s cougar was seen in the area from about 1300 East to Van Winkle and 5600 South, according to Murray police.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources was made aware of the animal’s location as well.

In an effort to keep the public informed and safe, police gave notice of the sighting later Tuesday in a Facebook post.

Residents are advised to bring young children inside before dusk and keep pets indoors at night, according to DWR officials.

If you see the animal, officials warn not to approach it.

If you encounter the animal, officials advise the following:

• Do not run away as it “will provoke an instinctive prey response and the cougar may pursue you.”
• Make eye contact with the cougar and make yourself look larger and intimidating
• Speak in a loud and firm voice to the animal
• Pick up small children before they panic and run
• If attacked, fight back and protect your neck

Additionally, all sightings should be reported to your nearest DWR office during normal business hours. The directory can be found here.

For after-hours or weekend sightings, residents are asked to report to the Murray Police Department at 801-840-4000. In the event of an emergency, dial 911.

For more information on cougars and how to protect yourself, DWR resources are available here.