Miller Middle School is warning parents of an active mountain lion near the school and surrounding neighborhood in Durango.

The mountain lion has killed deer on the school’s campus at 2608 Junction Creek Road, Principal Robert Nuhn wrote Thursday in a letter to parents.

“We had confirmation from the (Colorado) Division of Wildlife that is in fact the case,” he said.

Wildlife officials removed a deer carcass from the school grounds Thursday, said Joe Lewandowski, spokesman for the agency. It has received reports of other deer kills recently near the school, he said, and CDW is monitoring the area.

“Lions do their hunting at night,” Lewandowski said. “They’re fairly solitary; they really avoid noisy areas like school grounds.”

Parents were advised to tell their children about the situation, especially if they walk to and from school during the early hours or late after school for events.

“Making noise and traveling in groups is good practice,” Nuhn said.

If confronted, students should stay calm and make themselves look as big as possible by raising their arms and backpacks, he said.

“One should never run, but back away slowly if ever confronted,” he said.

It is rare for mountain lions to be active during the day. It is also rare for human-mountain lion interactions or attacks.

The Durango Police Department is doing extra patrols early in the morning as a safety precaution, and the school is increasing supervision of students during the lunch hour.

“Mostly, I just wanted to make you aware of the situation, especially should your student be a walker to and from school in the early or late hours,” Nuhn wrote in his letter to parents.

shane@durangoherald.com