A Glacier National Park employee has been cited for failing to maintain control of a dog that got into a fight with a mountain lion that led to the lion being shot to death by a park ranger.

Ironically, the ranger who killed the mountain lion was an owner of the dog, park officials said Friday in a release.

The incident last Saturday apparently was spurred when the unidentified employee returned to her West Glacier home and opened her car door only to see her two dogs dart out. After chasing after the dogs, the woman saw one involved in a fight with a mountain lion, while the other quickly came back to her.

"Based on an investigation of the dog-mountain lion incident, it was concluded the employee did not maintain control of the pet," the park release said. "It was also determined that the ranger that shot the mountain lion acted appropriately. The ranger involved in the incident is also an owner of the dog. The investigation concluded that the ranger, or any other ranger, would have acted in the same manner due to the rapidly evolving circumstances of the situation."

The citation, for failure to restraint a pet, carried a $75 fine.

“The sub-adult mountain lion displayed characteristics of habituation. The cat failed to flee the developed area after housing residents yelled and screamed, and rocks and logs were thrown at the cat," said Glacier Chief Ranger Paul Austin. “We take this incident seriously, as many children were playing outside in the housing area at the time of the incident.

“While we are all passionate about protecting the amazing resources of Glacier National Park, the first priority for our rangers must be for the safety of our employees and visitors,” he added in the release.

The park headquarters and employee housing area have been posted for mountain lion frequenting over the winter months. A mountain lion was hazed this winter in the employee housing area after observations of the animal near homes and offices, according to park officials.

Park rangers believe additional mountain lions may be frequenting the headquarters and employee housing area. The park will continue to implement actions in the area as appropriate, including posting the area to mountain lion frequenting, educational outreach to employees and visitors, area and/or trail closures, hazing and possible removal. These actions are consistent with park management plans.

Park housing residents are allowed to keep pets while living in government-owned structures in the park. According to park management directive, resident employees must comply with the same rules as visitors.

Pets are allowed in developed areas of the park, including frontcountry campgrounds and picnic areas, along roads, in parking areas, and in boats on lakes where motorized watercraft are permitted. The entire headquarters area of the park is considered a developed area. Pets are not permitted on trails, along lake shores, in the backcountry, or in any building. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet, under physical restraint, or caged at all times, including while in open-bed pickup trucks.