‘Mountain lion’ seen on home video proves to be something else, California cops say
A resident captured what they thought was a mountain lion on their Ring camera and called California police.
Putting residents on alert, the South San Francisco Police Department shared an image of a large feline trekking across a wooden fence on Facebook shortly before noon Tuesday, March 26.
“That’s a BIG cat!” police wrote.
Following the report, police said they searched the area but did not find the “furry guy,” adding no additional sightings were reported.
Police also offered tips to residents in the event they encountered a mountain lion.
However, a mere seven hours after the initial post, police said they confirmed the large feline was, in fact, “not a mountain lion.”
It turned out to be just a “Big Cat.”
Police said they wanted to share the initial information “out of an abundance of caution.”
“We are happy to report there is no potential threat for the neighborhood,” police said.
The reported sighting comes just days after a man was killed and his brother injured in a mountain lion attack in El Dorado County, the first fatal attack in the state in two decades, The Sacramento Bee reported.
What to do if you see a mountain lion
At the time of the initial Facebook post, South San Francisco police urged “residents to avoid mountain lions, even at a distance a brief glimpse should be cause for alarm.”
Police also advised not leaving pets outside, as they can attract the felines to the area.
Mountain lions are typically “calm, quiet and elusive,” according to the National Park Service. While attacks involving mountain lions are rare, they are possible.
“Even so, the potential for being killed or injured by a mountain lion is quite low compared to many other natural hazards,” the National Park Service said on its website. “There is a far greater risk, for example, of being killed in an automobile accident with a deer than of being attacked by a mountain lion.”
Officials said there are some things you can do to prevent a mountain lion encounter from becoming an attack.
Stay calm and back away slowly.
Face the lion and stand up straight.
Don’t approach a mountain lion, especially if it’s with kittens.
Don’t run. It could stimulate a mountain lion’s chase instincts.
Pick up small children so they don’t panic or run away.
Don’t bend over or crouch down.
Throw things at the mountain lion if it continues to move toward you.
If the mountain lion attacks, fight back using anything around you.
Report all sightings, encounters or attacks to local park rangers or law enforcement.
This story was originally published March 28, 2024 at 11:46 AM with the headline "‘Mountain lion’ seen on home video proves to be something else, California cops say."
