Mountain Lion Attacks Dog in Boulder, Family Shares Tragedy to Prevent Future Losses

A Family’s Tragic Encounter with a Mountain Lion

A family in Boulder, Colorado, shared a harrowing experience with FOX31 after witnessing a mountain lion attack and kill their dog during a nightly walk. Taulere and Arrone Appel described how their 10-pound dog, Bodhi, saved their lives during the incident.

“He was 10 pounds, he was our little baby,” said Taulere. The Appels recalled the events of July 25 when they took Bodhi for his usual evening walk around the 2400 block of Balsam Avenue. It was around 9 p.m., and they had a flashlight with them. Bodhi was on a leash, and they were walking on the sidewalk across the street, as they always did.

“All of a sudden, it just appeared at where we were standing, and it just happened,” Taulere said. Within three minutes of starting the walk, the mountain lion emerged from nowhere.

Arrone described the moment the attack occurred: “He grabbed him, and he started pulling him away, and I still had the leash. I was holding on to the leash, and I’m watching this and I’m yelling, and he started running with him in his mouth. And I knew I couldn’t get too close because I’d be next.”

The Appels hope that Bodhi’s death will serve as a warning to others about mountain lion safety, especially since the predator is still in the community. “I think to honor him and the way he was, that’s important,” said Arrone. “And it’s important for me and Taulere because we don’t want anyone to have to go through this. We’re afraid for the children because if you put your baby out in your yard or something, you think you’re safe. I mean, we don’t want to scare people, but we want them to be aware.”

Expert Response and Safety Tips

Kara Van Hoose, a representative from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, provided a statement to FOX31 following the incident. She explained that her team tried to locate the mountain lion the next day with the intention of tranquilizing and relocating it. However, the area where the lion was found posed challenges for safe handling.

“We came up the next day trying to locate this lion and with the hopes of maybe getting a dart in it to tranquilize it and then relocate it,” Van Hoose said. “The lion was in an area that would have made it too difficult to get to and kind of not safe for that particular tranquilizer dart. So we are still monitoring and hoping that people will report sightings of this mountain lion to us so we can have another crack at relocation.”

Van Hoose also emphasized that mountain lions are most active between dusk and dawn. She warned that if these animals learn that dogs are easy targets, they may repeat such behavior. “Mountain lions are big and powerful. It could be really a dog of any size. I’ve seen lions take down alpacas. You know, it’s not necessarily a matter of size but of access. So if you do let your dog out at night just kind of into the backyard by itself, we really recommend that before doing that, you either leash the dog and take it with you or you make those sounds.”

Community Awareness and Prevention

The Boulder Police Department was the first to report the attack and provided residents with tips on how to protect themselves from mountain lions. They advised people to keep pets indoors or leashed during nighttime hours and to avoid areas where mountain lions might be present.

Residents who spot a mountain lion are encouraged to report the sighting to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Contact details include calling the Denver office at 303-297-1192.

This tragic event serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and preparedness when living in areas where wildlife is common. As the Appels continue to mourn the loss of their beloved dog, they hope their story will help prevent similar incidents in the future.