Mountain lion stuns family inside their home

It was a typical Thursday morning for Virnie and LaDonna Mack as they began to get ready for the day. LaDonna was in the shower and Virnie was still in his pajamas when things suddenly took a turn.

The last thing Virnie and LaDonna Mack expected to find in their home was a wild mountain lion.

On the morning of May 1, LaDonna had let her dog, Honey, outside as usual and left an opening in the sliding glass door for her to return inside. About five minutes later, the couple was startled when Honey began yelping and tried to enter their bedroom. Virnie, 83, opened the door and Honey shot past him and retreated to the bed, where she laid there shaking violently.

Their son, Larry Mack, who lives with the couple, realized that something strange was happening and went to grab the .22-caliber rifle he keeps in the kitchen. As Larry, 62, left his bedroom and turned around the corner, he came face to face with a mountain lion that LaDonna described as comparable to the 173-pound mountain lion mount that hangs in the couple’s house. The lion had come down the large hill leading directly onto the deck and walked about five to six feet inside the home. Larry quickly realized the mountain lion was standing between him and his gun.  

Before Larry had time to react, the lion spun around and ran through the opening in the door and hightailed it back up the hill. Larry ran toward his room and yelled to his parents, “The cat’s in the house!” The couple could not believe what they heard.

“When Larry yelled that the cat was in the house, Virnie and I looked at each other like we were thinking ‘Did he say what we think he just said,’” LaDonna said.

It was not the first time this cat has been spotted near the home. Two weeks ago, LaDonna saw the lion grab one of their chickens and dart back up the hill. The following morning, she witnessed the same thing.

“He’s a hungry cat,” LaDonna, 80, said after explaining that the cat has taken five of their chickens within the past two weeks. “We think, maybe, he got inside the house and thought, ‘Lunch,’” LaDonna said, referring to the several animal mounts that can be spotted in their Libby home.

The Macks are no strangers to mountain lions. Along with the 173-pound mount, there is also another 190-pound mount hanging in the home. Their other son, Keith Mack, owns hounds used to chase lions during hunting seasons. Keith contacted Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and gained permission to track the mountain lion that has been harassing his parents.

Keith, 52, made two attempts to track the lion with his hounds; however, there was no scent for them to follow. Virnie and LaDonna are now hoping for the lion’s return.

“Once he comes in, the scent will be there and Keith will come with his dogs,” LaDonna said. In the meantime, the couple has several guns easily accessible should they encounter the lion when letting Honey outside.

Multiple attempts to contact Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks representatives were unsuccessful.