SAN DIEGO — Following the recent mountain lion sightings in neighborhoods across San Diego County, there are things you should know in case you ever run into these wild animals.
Surveillance cameras caught a mountain lion roaming in the backyard of a La Mesa home on Sunday evening west of SR-125 near Jackson Drive.
If you ever see a mountain lion in your backyard, neighborhood, or while on a hike, here's what you need to know.
Tips
- Do not run.
- Protect your pets and small kids because they are most at risk.
- Keep your pets on leash and indoors if possible. If not, put them in an enclosure or shelter at night.
- Keep barnyard animals fully enclosed from dusk until dawn.
- Don't feed wildlife like deer, raccoons or feral cats because they attract hungry mountain lions.
- Don’t approach or feed the wildlife. Give it space and respect.
Hiking
- Stay out of the wildlife habitats during low light.
- Keep pets on a leash and within 6 feet.
- Don't run.
- Face the animal, make noise and make yourself look bigger, then walk away.
What experts say
“In the San Diego area, it is not as common but it’s not unheard of for this to happen,” said Tim Daly with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Daly says mountain lions roaming through urban areas is nothing new, but with more cameras up around our homes these days, we’re seeing more of them when they do happen to pass through our neighborhoods.
“We have to understand that mountain lions in our state tend to be just as nervous around us as we are around them,” said Daly. “We’re not on their menu as I heard a biologist say in years past. They’d rather avoid us.”
WATCH RELATED: Mountain Lion spotted outside Mira Mesa home