Are mountain lion attacks on humans common?

NO. Mountain lion attacks on humans are extremely rare. The Mountain Lion Foundation (MLF) reports people are much more likely to be killed by a pet dog or struck by lightning.

Though mountain lions in South Dakota mostly live in the western part of the state and the Black Hills, one was spotted March 18 in downtown Sioux Falls. City officials have reported mountain lions have increasingly been spotted in residential areas, including in Spearfish. 

AllSides highlights content from Gigafact, a network of newsrooms that respond to online claims. View the full fact brief on South Dakota News Watch.