Mountain lion potentially sighted in South San Francisco neighborhood
A mountain lion may be prowling through South San Francisco, according to police who posted an image taken from a security camera. South San Francisco police have issued a warning about a potential mountain lion sighting in 2024. The potential sighting was captured on a home security camera on the 200 block of Mansfield Drive. Despite a thorough search, officers were unable to locate the animal. The police issued advice on its Facebook page for residents who may encounter a mountain lion, including making yourself appear bigger and retreating slowly. The warning comes days after a man was killed and injured in a similar incident in rural El Dorado County, marking the first reported fatal attack in California since 2004. The mountain lion involved in the attack was eventually euthanized by game wardens and trappers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Pubblicato : 2 mesi fa di Aidin Vaziri in Science
South San Francisco police posted this photo, saying it is of a possible mountain lion spotted in town on March 26, 2024.
The “big cat” was captured on a home security camera around 7 a.m. on the 200 block of Mansfield Drive, according to a Facebook post from the South San Francisco Police Department. Despite a search of the area following the sighting, officers were unable to locate the animal.
From the grainy picture attached to the post, some residents speculated that the camera might have just captured a “hefty house cat” at an angle that exaggerated its size.
Regardless, the police issued advice on its Facebook page for residents who might encounter a mountain lion: “Make your presence known; make noise, try to make yourself appear bigger and back away slowly.” The agency added, “Do not leave your domestic pets food outside, pets can attract mountain lions into developed areas such as this backyard.”
The potential spotting comes days after a mountain lion killed a 21-year-old man and injured his 18-year-old brother in rural El Dorado County. The incident marked the first reported fatal attack in California since 2004.
The mountain lion involved in that attack was subsequently located and euthanized by game wardens and trappers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the El Dorado County Trapper. The animal’s body was collected for examination, according to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.
Wildlife experts told the Chronicle that mountain lions typically avoid human encounters. Beth Pratt, the regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation, said conflicts between humans and wildlife often arise when animals are protecting their young or their food source. “Mountain lions really want nothing to do with us,” she said.
Before the most recent incident, a young boy was attacked in an unincorporated section of San Mateo County in 2023.
According to Justin Dellinger, the leader of UC Davis’ California Mountain Lion Project, data indicates that there are approximately 4,500 mountain lions statewide. Regions closer to the coast, including the Bay Area, and the northwest part of the state, generally have higher densities of mountain lions.