By TRILBY BERESFORD | Reporter
On Sunday, July 29, a mountain lion was observed near a residential property in the Upper Chautauqua/Rivas Canyon area. It was presumably in search of drinking water.
Then on Thursday, Aug. 2, Gina Vincent spotted a cub at her residence in The Highlands. It was drinking from the swimming pool when her dog chased it into a tree.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife was alerted as a safety measure, though the cub left of its own accord during the night.
“This is the first time I’ve seen a lion here in 24 years,” Vincent told the Palisadian-Post. “It was probably in the tree for about 12 hours,” she concluded.
Seeing a mountain lion in the daytime is a rare opportunity, but a reminder that we share their territory.
The National Park Service lists recommendations to increase safety during an encounter with a mountain lion. They emphasize staying calm and not approaching or running from a mountain lion as these actions may stimulate the animal’s instinct to chase.
If a mountain lion moves in your direction or behaves aggressively, the recommendation is to appear large and intimidating. This may involve speaking in a loud, firm voice and slowly waving ones arms. For the full list, visit nps.gov.
In addition, safety and educational resources are available from the Mountain Lion Foundation (mountainlion.org), including how to protect people, pets and livestock.
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