For many people, closing and locking the front door is something instinctive and natural, something we automatically do all the time, especially when we live in big cities. But some people who live out in more rural areas or safer neighborhoods don’t always feel the need to shut their doors. This story, however, reminds us that danger can be lurking outside, even in places that seem to be totally safe, and it can strike when you least expect it.
Ed and Kathy Suddeth live in the quiet and beautiful city of Sonora, California. Nestled among the Sierra Nevada Foothills in the heart of Gold Country, the city is a charming place, surrounded by nature.
Ed and Kathy had left their front door open, with nothing but a screen door between them and the outside world. And that screen door provided little resistance when a ferocious mountain lion charged right through it and into Ed and Kathy’s home!
Able to reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, leap over 12 foot fences with ease, climb trees in an instant, and apparently, burst through screen doors without breaking a sweat, mountain lions are tough, agile, and can be very dangerous when backed into a corner and forced to defend themselves as well.
Also known as cougars, these animals used to be found all over the US, but these days, we can only really see them regularly in the western states. They tend to live in woodlands and deserts, but do find themselves in towns and cities now and then, as Ed and Kathy found out.
It’s possible that the mountain lion might have been chasing another animal outside and accidentally ended up inside the property. Either way, the unsuspecting couple suddenly found themselves face to face with a wild animal.
They were shocked, but the lion was quite surprised by the situation too and quickly tried to run away, becoming disoriented in the process and ending up taking shelter in the family bathroom!
The Suddeths shut the bathroom door behind the lion and called up the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, who got in touch with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to try and deal with the furry feline.
Posed with a unique problem, the officers and workers had to device a smart plan to get the mountain lion out while minimizing the risk to themselves, the Suddeths, and the animal itself. Sgt. Andrea Benson explains what happened next:
A ladder was placed against the outside of the home. With the homeowners’ permission, the second-story bathroom window was broken. Deputies and Fish and Wildlife Officers pounded on the side of the house and pointed their flashlight at the window to show the mountain lion that was the way out.
It only took a few minutes for the lion to identify its escape route and leap out of the window, down the ladder and off into the wilderness.
A camera had been set up to film the lion’s escape, and you can see it all happen in the clip below.
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An intruder caught in the act!
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Posted by Tuolumne County Sheriff on Monday, 16 September 2019
