A fight between a mountain lion and a dog at Glacier National Park came to an end when a park ranger shot and killed the big cat after efforts to separate the two animals failed.

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

"Other housing residents heard the dogs, lion and employee yelling, and ran to offer assistance," park spokeswoman Denise Germann wrote in a press release. "A shovel was briefly used unsuccessfully to separate the mountain lion and dog. The animals tumbled over an embankment near the Flathead River. Another housing resident arrived with bear spray and began throwing rocks and logs. The mountain lion pinned down the dog near the river’s edge.

"A park ranger arrived at the scene and shot the mountain lion," she continued. "The dog broke away and jumped into the river. After confirming the mountain lion was down and wasn’t moving, the park ranger entered the river to bring the dog to safety. Others helped to get the injured dog to the river bank."

The dog was taken to an area veterinarian and received stitches for its wounds. It is expected to fully recover. 

Park officials did not identify the species of dog, and Ms. Germann was attending a conference Monday and Tuesday and unavailable to comment.

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

While park employees and visitors are allowed to have dogs, they are expected to be on leash and under control. Pets also are allowed in the park's front-country campgrounds and picnic areas, on boats on lakes where motorized watercraft are allowed, but not on trails, along lake shores, or in the backcountry.