A mountain lion quietly padded across a cinderblock wall in a southwest Las Vegas backyard this week, caught overnight on a homeowner's motion-activated camera. The clip, later shared on social media, shows the big cat cruising along the wall in a neighborhood that backs up to desert foothills near the Mountains Edge area around Durango Drive.
The Footage
According to FOX5, the motion-detecting camera recorded the animal as it crawled along the cinderblock wall. The family did not realize they had a wild visitor until they checked their recordings later and posted the video online. The station reports the sighting happened "a couple of nights ago."
What Wildlife Officials Say
State wildlife guidance points out that encounters with mountain lions are rare and that the risk of an attack is extremely small, while still urging common-sense precautions for homes that border wildlands. The Nevada Department of Wildlife advises residents to remove attractants such as birdseed and pet food, bring pets indoors at night, and supervise children when they are outside. NDOW also recommends motion-activated lights or sprinklers and asks people to report residential sightings to its dispatch line at (775) 688-1331.
Why Lions Turn Up Near Neighborhoods
Biologists say mountain lions roam large areas as they follow prey like mule deer, and younger cats leaving their mother's territory often travel along the edges of valleys. The Mountain Lion Foundation notes that communities built up against foothills, including parts of Mountains Edge, are exactly where people are most likely to cross paths with big cats. Reducing food sources and securing yards cuts down on the chances that a lion will come back.
Local History And Response
Las Vegas-area animal control and wildlife crews have dealt with similar calls before. In previous incidents, county animal control and NDOW have tranquilized and relocated mountain lions when they could, according to KTNV. How officials respond depends on the cat's behavior and whether it appears used to being around people.
What Neighbors Should Do
Neighbors in Mountains Edge told FOX5 they were startled but unharmed after seeing the video of the late-night visitor. If you spot a mountain lion, wildlife guidance says to give the animal plenty of space, do not run, try to look larger, make noise, and call authorities so trained officers can evaluate the situation. For residential sightings in Nevada, NDOW's dispatch line is (775) 688-1331.
