Mountain lion seen at Mount Charleston school

Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004 | 11:33 a.m.

A mountain lion was spotted on the grounds of Lundy Elementary School in Kyle Canyon early this morning.

A school teacher who lives across the street in the small community along Kyle Canyon Road saw the animal about 7 a.m. and notified school officials and local police. School begins at 8 a.m.

School officials immediately notified the parents of Lundy's 17 children of the possible danger, Julie Ruschmeyer, the teacher responsible for the site, said.

All of the children were to be kept inside throughout the day, Ruschmeyer said.

Children in the wooden, two-classroom schoolhouse were excited about the mountain lion, Ruschmeyer said, and the students spent the first 10 minutes of class sharing stories.

"Everyone who lives up here has a story about seeing mountain lions or cougars," Ruschmeyer said. "You see them from time to time and you just try to coexist with them."

Neither Ruschmeyer or Sgt. Rory Tuggle of the Metro Police Mount Charleston substation, were very concerned about the mountain lion.

Police officers had not seen the mountain lion, one of 75 estimated to be in the area, since the report came in, Tuggle said.

"The teacher who saw it said that it was fat and well-fed and just kind of moving slowly through the area," Tuggle said, adding that there has been a lion living around the local lodge for three years.