A mountain lion and multiple coyotes have been spotted strolling a little too close for comfort near homes across Southern Nevada this week, with video and eyewitness reports showing the animals prowling yards and quiet neighborhood streets. Residents in Sandy Valley and parts of the Las Vegas Valley say they have seen the big cat and packs of coyotes near fences, dog runs and retention basins, prompting calls to wildlife authorities and a fresh round of caution among pet owners.
One family in Sandy Valley told reporters that a mountain lion had been seen on their acreage repeatedly and that they found the remains of a cat and a dog on their property, which led them to contact wildlife personnel. As reported by FOX5, Nevada Department of Wildlife conservation education supervisor Doug Nielsen said relocation “doesn’t really work most of the time” because big cats can travel long distances and may return to familiar territory.
Coyotes turning up in neighborhood yards
Across the valley, neighbors have been posting camera clips of coyotes moving through retention basins, trails and backyards. KTNV reports that the Nevada Department of Wildlife says coyotes are highly adaptable to urban environments and recommends not feeding wildlife, securing trash, keeping small pets inside and “hazing” the animals by making loud noises or squirting them with water to reinforce their wariness of people.
What wildlife officials recommend
The Nevada Department of Wildlife advises residents to remove attractants such as bird seed and outdoor pet food, supervise children near dusk and dawn, and use motion-activated lights or sprinklers to discourage predators around homes. The Nevada Department of Wildlife “Living With Mountain Lions” page outlines how to behave if you encounter a cougar, and NDOW’s Living With Wildlife hub lists regional contacts.
Why sightings are happening
Wildlife experts say expansion of housing and the presence of washes, retention basins and landscaped yards concentrate prey species and create corridors that predators use to move through developed areas. The Las Vegas Review-Journal has reported that the Nevada Department of Wildlife receives regular coyote reports and that retention basins and washes are common hotspots for encounters…