No other information about the sighting was provided. It wasn t immediately clear in what area of the canyon the animal was spotted, and University police said they did not have any photos or images of the mountain lion.
The canyon, which is located adjacent to the eastern end of the university s campus, is a popular hiking spot and also home to the Red Butte Canyon Research Natural Area.
Scott Root, outreach manager for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, said the division did receive a call about the sighting and was in standby mode in case the creature became an immediate threat or made its way toward any buildings at the U. campus. He added that biologists likely wouldn t need to do anything if the animal remains in the foothills and Wasatch Mountains, where many of the state s mountain lion population roams around.