SAN DIEGO — A neighborhood in Rancho Santa Fe is on alert after a person spotted a mountain lion staring down a coyote in their backyard.
Neighbors have been sharing a photo and video of the encounter online to warn others.
“There are so many trails you can take your horses,” said Luis Cardenas.
He’s a horse trainer and rides and runs on the trails near El Camino Del Norte and Escondido Creek.
“It’s like a half mile where I work on the other side of this house, so close by,” said Cardenas.
He says neighbors shared a photo of big cat staring down a coyote and he posted it to Nextdoor to alert others of the sighting.
“Since we run those trails at least two times a week she said, ‘Hey Luis, be careful because my friend spotted this in her backyard,’” added Cardenas.
CBS 8 reached out to the homeowner. Andi Ballard says a mountain lion tracker came to their house this week and says they are on the big cat's trail via tracks and other home surveillance video.
On Ballard's picture and video you can see the wildlife roaming in their backyard near their pool. In the video you see the mountain lion look around and mosey down the hill.
“The canyon runs in between those houses there and there is a creek that runs to Escondido,” said Cardenas.
Experts say the coyote appears to be preparing to escape. The homeowner also commented the coyote was able to run off down by the creek.
A spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife says it’s unusual to see mountain lions in this area but it’s not unheard of. There is a habitat east of Rancho Santa Fe that hosts mountain lions.
“Our biologist down there…when I showed him that picture, he said, that is pretty cool. That’s from a biologist who deals with this all the time,” said Tim Daly, CDFW Public Information Officer.
He says the agency has not received reports of any threats in this area. Biologists believe the cougar is about 100-120 pounds.
“Definitely not a juvenile, approaching adult age but there are some markings on it that aren’t completely visible that would help us determine the age,” said Daly.
He says neighbors don’t need to be terrified to go outside, just be alert and do not leave pets outside alone.
“Attacks are very rare. If you come face to face with a mountain lion, whether in your backyard or out on a trail, do your best to be large, be noisy, whatever you do, you do not run from a mountain lion,” said Daly.
Cardenas says he’s glad to share the sighting to keep neighbors’ alert.
Wildlife sightings, welfare or anything suspicious or of concern can be reported on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
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