I am not even kidding when I say there is an African Lion on the loose right now in a suburb of COS:
CSPD chopper to aid search for lion on the loose east of Springs
El Paso County sheriff's deputies and state wildlife officers are on the hunt for a lion - not a mountain lion, but a large African lion - in the eastern part of the county.
A resident reportedly saw the animal around 8 a.m. chasing their dog in the area of Falcon Highway and Log Road, said sheriff's office spokeswoman Lt. Lari Sevene.
"They're saying he has a red mane and a big tail," Sevene said.
Michael Seraphin, spokesman for the Colorado Division of Wildlife, said photos taken by two residents and tracks found by DOW officers confirm the animal is an African lion and not a cougar.
The sightings are about five miles from Big Cats of Serenity Springs, a sanctuary in the area, but the operator Nick Sculack said none of the sanctuary's animals is missing.
"We counted four times and none are missing," said Sculack, adding the lion probably was being kept illegally as a pet.
Sculack had brought a tranquilizer gun in hopes of taking the animal alive.
The last sighting was about 10 a.m. near Coyote Lane. The Colorado Springs Police Department was sending its helicopter to assist in the search.
Reverse 911 calls have been used to warn resident in the area to remain indoors until the animal is captured.
link to article: http://www.gazette.com/news/office_38203___article.html/sheriff_lion.html
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