It’s no secret that mountain lions are often to blame for missing dogs and cats in Colorado – but a dead horse? A rancher told FOX 31 that might be the case.
Per the FOX 31 report, a Fort Collins area rancher is warning his neighbors, hikers, and riders to be on alert after three of his horses were attacked and one was killed in recent days. This is still a developing story and Colorado Parks and Wildlife plans to follow-up, but either way, it’s an eye-opening incident for others in the Centennial State who may be caring for horses – a reminder to proceed with caution given predators that prowl in the night.
Obviously, horses come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, with the typical riding horse typically weighing between 900 and 1,200 pounds. Per Rocky Mountain National Park, this would put the weight of a horse in the same range as an elk, with elk weighing up to 1,100 pounds and being a potential source of prey for mountain lion. Mountain lion tend to go for smaller targets – deer, for example – but in some cases have been known to even attack and kill moose, a much larger species…