FRISCO, Texas — Police are urging residents to exercise caution after a mountain lion was spotted in North Texas this week.
The animal was seen on security camera footage in the area of Lake Lewisville, west of Frisco, on Monday, Nov. 4.
Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) confirmed the sighting and is actively monitoring the area.
Authorities ask that residents report any additional mountain lion sightings or encounters to TPWD DFW Urban Wildlife Biologist Rachel Ritter at rachel.ritter@tpwd.texas.gov
Mountain lions are solitary animals that are mainly found in the Trans-Pecos region of the state, South Texas and portions of the Hill Country. Attacks on people are rare, with less than 30 confirmed fatal mountain lion attacks on people in North America since 1868, an average of about 0.18 attacks per year, according to the Mountain Lion Foundation.
Though mountain lion attacks are rare, they can happen. If you do encounter a mountain lion in your proximity, follow these safety tips from Texas Parks & Wildlife:
Pick up all children off the ground immediately
Don’t approach the animal or run away
Don’t hide or crouch down. Try to make yourself look bigger by standing up tall
Don’t turn your back, instead back away slowly
If the lion is aggressive, throw things like rocks or sticks
If the lion attacks, fight back. Fighting back can drive off lions