A resident captured an image of the Mountain Lion and sent it to school officials, who made sure students were kept indoors.
DULUTH, Minn. — Two Duluth schools were placed under ‘secure status protocol,’ and students were kept indoors after a mountain lion was spotted wandering nearby on Wednesday.
Duluth Public Schools (DPS) spokesperson Adelle Wellens told KARE 11 news partner Northern News Now that a neighbor sent the district a picture of the animal, which prompted them to activate their “SECURE” status and keep everyone inside at Ordean East Middle School and Congdon Elementary.
“It’s very unusual to have to deal with a mountain lion, especially in our city, but knowing the DNR, the Duluth police, and our neighbors are looking out for our students is great,” Wellens said.
The secure status was lifted later in the afternoon after the school district and Duluth Police communicated with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which concluded the animal had left the area based on its behavioral patterns.
Parents were notified around 2:00 p.m. that an all-clear had been issued, students were released from school as usual, and after-school programs continued as normal.
Jay Hanson was picking up two of his children at Ordean East, and said he wasn’t too concerned once he knew his kids were indoors.
“It was just amazing that we actually had a mountain lion in town, and that it popped up on my cell phone. It was a little alarming at first, and I kinda thought it was cool after I had seen it there,” said Hanson.
Hanson was confident his kids were safe, and said he’s used to wild animals living in the area since moving to Duluth in 1999.
“We’ve dealt with bears, been hiking places where there are mountain lions, and I’ve let them know what to do and how to take care of them, so they were probably pretty relaxed about it,” said Hanson.
School administrators did notify parents to pick up students who typically walk home from school.
After communicating with wildlife officials from other midwestern states, the DNR believes the wandering lion was originally tagged in Nebraska, but is wearing a tracking collar that is broken.
“We’ve been tracking it, if you will, through trail cam pictures that people send or home security videos all the way back since early September,” said John Erb, a Research Biologist with the Minnesota DNR. “It’s been in Minnesota for nearly three months now.”
Erb says the Mountain Lion was first spotted in Fergus Falls before heading through multiple communities including Wadena, Nisswa, Brainerd, and just five minutes from his home in Grand Rapids. He says it’s not uncommon for a mountain lion to wander, especially a young male like this one, which they believe is around 2-3 years old.
“Looking for a mate, trying to find its own territory,” said Erb. “Their habitat is somewhat mostly occupied, like the black hills or Nebraska. So if you’re born there, there’s that drive just like teenagers to find your own place to be the big dog or cat.”
Erb does believe that the animal won’t stay put for long.
“Odds are this animal is not going to stay put anywhere; it’s going to keep on going where it ends up,” said Erb.
According to the Minnesota DNR, if you are confronted by a cougar, face it directly, raise your arms to make yourself appear larger, and speak loudly and firmly.