Frisco Mountain Lion: Camera spots big cat in homeowner's backyard
FRISCO, Texas - Residents are being warned to stay alert after a mountain lion was spotted at a home in far west Frisco near Lake Lewisville.
Frisco officials and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department confirmed a sighting that was captured on a homeowner’s security camera on Monday.
"It is likely that this mountain lion is just passing through and will not stay in the area for an extended period of time," TPWD said in a news release.
However, the department's urban wildlife biologists plan to actively monitor the area. They’re also asking people in the area to report any additional sightings.
Are mountain lion sightings in North Texas common?
Wildfire officials say recent mountain lion sightings in North Texas are incredibly rare.
Mountain lions can move dozens of miles a day. There’s no established population of mountain lions in North Texas, making this sighting extremely rare.
Sam Kieschnick is an urban wildlife biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife. He says mountain lions are usually only seen in southwest areas of the Lone Star State, like Big Bend.
"They are inordinately uncommon," he said. "But they have a home range of 100-200 miles, square miles. So in other words, they can roam. They can move around."
The Frisco resident who reported a video to Texas Wildlife was the second person in the area to report a mountain lion.
The first case happened on October 27 also near Lake Lewisville.
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"It may be looking for a suitable habitat. Probably not going to find the best habitat up here in Dallas- Fort Worth for it to stay. So, hopefully, it is simply moving through," Kieschnick said. "We think it’ll kind of ride Lake Lewisville and head up north, but who knows?"
Texas Wildlife says it’s setting up trail cameras in the Lake Lewisville area, but it’s possible the mountain lion is already away from the region.
"We think that this is an individual making its way through," Kieschnick said.
Texas Parks and Wildlife says there is no clear data revealing the amount of mountain lions in North Texas, but some speculate it’s close to 5,000.
There have not been credible sightings in North Texas since 2020 in Rowlett.
What to do if you encounter a mountain lion
Kieschnick says there has never been a reported mountain lion attack on a human in Texas. But if you ever encounter one and cannot immediately get to safety, do not run or act intimidated.
"So if you see a mountain lion, you want to look as big as possible," Kieschnick advised. "You want to shake your hands. You want to make noise, look like it would take a lot of energy to take you down."
TPWD said anyone who encounters a mountain lion should:
- Pick up all children off the ground immediately.
- Do NOT approach the lion.
- Stay calm. Talk calmly and move slowly.
- Face the lion and remain in an upright position.
- Do not turn your back on the lion. Back away slowly.
- Do NOT run.
- Do all you can to enlarge your image. Do NOT crouch down or try to hide.
- If the lion is aggressive, throw rocks, sticks, or anything you can get your hands on.
- If the lion attacks, fight back. Fighting back can drive off lions.