Renny Mckay, spokesman for the Wyoming Game and Fish department,says mountain lions in some Wyoming communities is not rare, but it is for Cheyenne. “Mountain lions the age of this one tend to move a lot, so for a mountain lion this age to be on the ove and happen to run into an urban setting that tends to happen.

Yes, mountain lions are found statewide in Wyoming, including the areas surrounding Cheyenne. While they are famously elusive "ghost cats" that actively avoid human contact, they are known to inhabit the rugged terrain, canyons, and "breaks" of Laramie County. In 2026, sightings within the city limits of Cheyenne remain extremely rare, but the Wyoming Game and Fish Department occasionally monitors lions that follow prey (like deer and elk) into suburban greenways or the nearby Curt Gowdy State Park. It is important to distinguish between wild sightings and the resident lions at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (located in nearby Colorado Springs), which is a popular destination for locals. For residents of Cheyenne, the "high-fidelity" advice for living in lion country includes keeping pets indoors at night and being aware of your surroundings when hiking in the foothills. While a negative encounter is statistically unlikely, the presence of these large carnivores is a natural part of the High Plains ecosystem and a testament to Wyoming's robust and well-managed wildlife populations.