Minnesota schools forced into lockdown as mountain lion roams through suburban neighborhoods
Roaming mountain lion forces US schools into lockdown
- Two schools in Duluth, Minnesota, Ordean East Middle School and Congdon Park Elementary, were briefly put on lockdown and placed on “secure status” after a mountain lion was sighted in nearby neighbourhoods.
- The alert was issued on Wednesday afternoon, keeping students indoors, and the status was lifted shortly after as authorities were confident the animal had moved on.
- The mountain lion is identifiable by a non-functional tracking collar and ear tags, and is believed to be a two-year-old male from a Nebraska research study.
- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has been loosely tracking the animal since early September, but its collar is not monitored by the agency.
- Duluth Police advised residents to exercise caution and not approach the mountain lion, noting this is the second animal-related school protocol in Duluth this year.