Couple Finds Mtn. Lion & Cubs Living Under Deck
Duke and Theresa Smith live in Golden and the largest wild animals they had seen until now are deer. Not anymore.
"I received a call from my neighbor," said Theresa Smith. "She said, 'There are two mountain lion cubs on your deck.'"
The cubs darted underneath their lower deck, which immediately made Theresa think, "Where are the parents?"
"I looked over, she was right there," said Smith. "The mountain lion was right here, and snarled at me."
Duke ran to get his camera and snapped a picture before the mother scurried away down the hill and right before police and the division of wildlife arrived.
"It was unbelievable to me that this wild animal was right here in my yard," said Smith.
In what would be a six-hour ordeal, the mother lion and her two cubs were tranquilized.
One cub had to be chased up this steep hill toward the cliff-riddled open space that boarders the Smith's home.
The mother had previously been tagged and was wearing a radio collar.
Theresa said she was told the lion roamed here from the Evergreen area, and that she and the cubs would be relocated.
