By SCOTT HARRISON

s.harrison@krdo.com

PUEBLO - A viewer tells NEWSCHANNEL 13 Thursday that a bear entered her property Thursday morning and killed some of her livestock.  Louella Cruz says it's the second time this week that a predator has killed some of her animals.

Cruz, who lives on Palo Alto Street in the Salt Creek area just east of the Pueblo city limits, says the predator attacked around 5 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  So far, Cruz says she has lost four lambs, two goats and two pigs.  She says she has not seen the predator, but has heard it during the attacks.

The Division of Wildlife (DOW) confirms the Tuesday attack, but had not heard of the Thursday attack until informed by NEWSCHANNEL 13.  However, the DOW has not determined whether the predator is a bear or mountain lion.  Michael Seraphin of the DOW says if it's a bear, it probably is a young male seeking territory and is lured to the area by the animals.  The DOW has set up two traps in hopes of catching the predator.  Wildlife officers reconsidered a plan to send dogs out to track the animal, because the area is too populated.

The DOW has a fund available to which livestock owners can apply for reimbursement.  Cruz says her lost livestock is worth about $1,100.

NEWSCHANNEL 13 will continue to track this story and tell you when the predator is caught, and what it is.