Mountain lion sightings are rare in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, state wildlife officials say, but the last few weeks seem to challenge that notion.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department confirmed the third mountain lion sighting in North Texas in less than a month — this time in Plano.
Plano city officials on Tuesday shared a Facebook post with a screenshot of security video showing a mountain lion trotting down what looks to be a neighborhood alley. The time stamp in the screenshot showed the footage was taken shortly after 2:30 a.m. Friday.
The city’s post also included a link to a video of the security video.
Last week, state wildlife officials confirmed two separate sightings. A mountain lion was seen in late October at an RV Park in Lake Dallas and less than a week later in western Frisco — both near Lewisville Lake.
Sam Kieschnick, an urban wildlife biologist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said a single mountain lion is likely moving through the area.
“It’s hard to predict what nature wants to do. We’re kind of seeing through these three sightings that it is roaming. It is looking for room; it’s looking for an area,” Kieschnick said.
Given the rarity of mountain lion sightings in North Texas, Kieschnick and other state wildlife officials have said the cat is likely the same animal seen in Denton County.
“This is almost certainly the same cat. It’s impossible for us to say that it’s definitely the same cat, but it’s highly probable,” Kieschnick said.
Mountain lions are nocturnal, and attacks are rare, according to state wildlife officials. The department is monitoring the situation and asking people to report sightings.
“It’s an interesting time,” Kieschnick said. “In the past, you had to be a wildlife biologist with trail cameras set up to see wildlife, but now, with our security cameras, we can see wildlife all the time.”
If people encounter a mountain lion, they should pick up any children and small animals off the ground and not approach the animal, state wildlife officials advise.
They should try to remain calm, not turn their backs to the mountain lion and back away slowly if possible.
If a mountain lion is aggressive, people should not run. They should try to enlarge their body profile and throw objects, including stones and sticks, to scare the animal away. In the case of an attack, fight back.
People in Dallas-Fort Worth should report mountain lion sightings to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by emailing rachel.richter@tpwd.texas.gov.