BURLEY -- Even a sheriff's deputy is no match for a mountain lion.

Cassia County Deputy Larry Thompson had a brush closer than he cared for with a young lion Thursday at a home near Malta.

A DHL delivery driver reported being chased by a mountain lion while attempting to leave a package for residents at a home near 895 S. on Hwy 81, said Undersheriff Cary Bristol.

Thompson was told the cat chased the driver and was still in the area, Bristol said.

"Larry was worried about children returning from school so he went to check on them," Bristol said. "He was knocking at the door when a bush to the left of the door began moving and he heard the cat growling."

Thompson slowly backed away from the door and returned to his truck, then called the sheriff's office to ask for permission to kill the animal.

"I was concerned about him shooting it without Fish and Game knowing, so I had him contact (game warden) Tim Ferguson," Bristol said.

"They were unable to respond immediately so because there had been a previous report of a horse being killed in the area by a cat and due to the children living there, the warden gave Thompson permission to put the cat down."

Ferguson said the report Thursday was the first he had heard about any cat attacking livestock.

"I hadn't heard about the horse attack," Ferguson said. "I don't know if it was reported to wildlife services and they just hadn't contacted me or what, but we felt that since it had come into a residence, for public safety it was best to put the cat down."