Dog Chases Cat--Big Cat--Away From Child : Wildlife: Search is on for mountain lion after Dante, the family’s miniature greyhound, plays hero in Coto de Caza back-yard standoff.

Search teams spent Friday night tracking a mountain lion that nearly attacked a 2-year-old girl in her back yard on Thursday before the family dog scared it away.

Sarah Woods was playing in her back yard when the mountain lion apparently poised to pounce on her, said Jeff Weir, a spokesman for the state Department of Fish and Game.

Ann Woods, 31, was feeding her 7-month-old daughter inside the house when she heard their dog, Dante, barking incessantly, she told authorities. When she looked over her shoulder, she saw the lion in a crouched position and seemingly ready to dart toward her daughter.

When the mother screamed, the barking dog, a 17-pound miniature greyhound, ran toward the mountain lion, estimated at 80 pounds. The sudden commotion scared off the cat, Weir said.

“Dante really saved the girl’s life,” Weir said. “This could have been a highly dangerous situation.”

Three game wardens, a tracker and two dogs combed the northwest canyon areas for signs of the mountain lion throughout Thursday and Friday nights, said warden Capt. Jerry Spansail.

Mountain lion paw prints were detected, but the dogs did not find any scent, Spansail said.

“The dogs didn’t find a hot trail,” Weir said. “The cat may be gone, but we’re keeping the groups on site just in case the cat returns to the area.”

As more time passes, officials said, it’s less likely that the mountain lion will return. By Friday, Weir said there was a 50% chance of finding the lion.

The teams planned to remain in the area throughout the night and to decide this morning whether to continue.

Although the search teams warned residents that any barking from the search dogs could signal the presence of the mountain lion, some residents weren’t startled.

“If you live in the countryside, there will be animals,” Barry Klein said.

This affluent sector of Coto de Caza, Weir said, is located in “mountain lion country. This area backs up to the Cleveland National Forest and Casper Park. The hilly, rugged terrain is made for mountain lions.”

Although mountain lions rarely are spotted near homes, it is more likely to happen as development encroaches on their habitat, Weir said.

“We’re facing more conflicts with wildlife on the fringes of suburbia,” he said.

If residents encounter a mountain lion, authorities advise, they should take an offensive tack. Do not run, Weir warned. Instead, stand still and tall and make eye contact with the animal.

“Wave your arms and make noise,” Weir said “The bottom line is to let the cat know that you’re a different type of animal. You don’t want to appear like sheep or deer. And you don’t want to run and turn your back on the cat because it attacks from the rear.”