The Boulder Police Department and local animal protection officers are investigating a mountain lion attack that killed a pet dog over the weekend.

At around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, residents encountered a mountain lion while walking their small dog near the 2400 block of Balsam Avenue in north Boulder, according to a Boulder Police Department news release on social media platform X.

The mountain lion quickly appeared and pounced on the dog, which died instantly, the police said.

Without threatening the residents, the mountain lion ran off with the dog, according to the police.

The next day, Boulder Police Animal Protection officers and City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Park Rangers responded to another sighting of the same mountain lion.

“We presumed the deceased dog or another animal was nearby in a cache, where the mountain lion had stored the animal for later/continued consumption,” Boulder police officials said in the news release. “That is a common reason a mountain lion would remain in a specific area or yard for a prolonged period of time.”

During Saturday’s investigation, the mountain lion left the brush and ran off, according to authorities.

Police said the dog taken on Friday was recovered in a nearby backyard.

“Though this type of attack is rare, mountain lions are common in Colorado,” police said, sharing safety tips if one encounters a mountain lion:

• Do not approach lions. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give the lion a way to escape.
• Stay calm if you come upon a lion. Talk to it in a firm voice in an effort to demonstrate that you are human and not its regular prey.
• Back away slowly. Running may stimulate a lion’s instinct to chase and attack.
• Face the lion and make an effort to appear as large as possible. Open your jacket or lift objects to appear like a more formidable opponent. Pick up your children.
• If the lion behaves aggressively, throw rocks, sticks or whatever you can pick up, without turning your back to the lion or bending down.
• If the lion would happen to attack, fight back. Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back. Remain standing and keep attempting to get back up if you are brought to the ground