Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the start time of the meeting.

The agenda for an upcoming Colorado Parks and Wildlife meeting that is aimed at focusing on wolf reintroduction has been adjusted given the recent mountain lion activity in Summit County.

The change came up at a Feb. 14 Silverthorne Town Council work session where town manager Ryan Hyland informed council of the agenda change for the Feb. 26 meeting hosted by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

“With everything that’s going on here they’re going to add a segment on mountain lions,” Hyland told council.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said a majority of the meeting will cover living and recreating with wolves now that they have been reintroduced, but there will be a brief segment to update the recent mountain lion activity in Silverthorne.

The meeting will be at the Silverthorne Pavilion, located at 400 Blue River Parkway, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. 

Jonnah Glassman told the council she gave Colorado Parks and Wildlife a call to learn more about what can be done to protect pets from mountain lions and shared her findings. 

She explained she was told that having motion-sensor lights on the exterior of homes can play a role in ensuring mountain lions don’t come near. She said Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommended this as opposed to a light that’s on all the time because animals will get used to a light that is constantly on. 

“When a light flashes on, that’s when it scares them,” Glassman said. 

Glassman said she was told music is another mechanism that can be used to startle the animals.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife said that while an attack on a human is unlikely, do not leave your children outside alone. Council also learned about a repellant that is known to keep animals at bay. 

“Most animals don’t like ammonia,” Glassman told council. “So putting the smell of ammonia on a rag or having it like a vial and leaving that open can sometimes help.”

She said that Colorado Parks and Wildlife said that having bird feeders is a bad idea. It provides an easy catch for mountain lions on the hunt, and they could continue to show up at your home if they know it has a constant source of food. 

Mayor Ann-Marie Sandquist shared with council a tip she was given to keep mountain lions away from her pet: blinking collars. Speaking of safety accessories, Glassman said she was also told about these protective vests that can make a dog look like “a little punk rocker” with spikes on it to ward off predators. 

There was one tip Colorado Parks and Wildlife gave to Glassman that the council couldn’t get behind

— using air horns to ward off mountain lions.

“I’m sure the neighbors would love hearing that at 6 o’clock in the morning,” Sandquist said, with all council members nodding in agreement. 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Rachael Gonzales said mountain lions are most active dusk through dawn and it’s important to make your presence known so you do not startle one. She said this can be done by turning on lights making noise before letting your pet out.

“The goal is to make a mountain lion feel as uncomfortable and unwanted as possible so they will leave,” Gonzales said in an email. “Keep a close eye on (your pet) and never leave them out overnight.” 

The Feb. 26 meeting with Colorado Parks and Wildlife is open for the public to attend to learn more tips.