DULUTH – Two schools on Duluth’s east side were put on secure status Wednesday after a mountain lion was spotted roaming the neighborhood.
A school resource officer at Ordean East Middle School reported that the mountain lion was within a half-mile of the school, leading school officials to keep students inside where classes continued uninterrupted. Nearby, Congdon Park Elementary School did the same.
District officials consulted with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources before canceling the emergency protocol after about 30 minutes. The state agency was familiar with this specific animal.
“The mountain lion has been spotted all along the North Shore,” according to Adelle Wellens, the school district’s communications officer.
The mountain lion has a tracking collar, making it identifiable. It is not a DNR device, so they are unable to track it.
It was unclear who put a collar on the animal.
The Duluth Police Department said it is working with the DNR and wasn’t taking further action.
“As with any wild animal, we want to remind the community that you should exercise caution in their presence and never approach them,” the department said in a news release.
