Apex predator prowls through California yard and triggers doorbell camera. See it
An elusive apex predator was caught prowling through a California yard on the home’s doorbell camera, officials said.
The resident contacted the Fairfield Police Department to notify officers “of a strange late night/early morning visitor — one who either clearly disregarded their ‘No Soliciting’ sign, or had an earnest desire to make new friends,” the department said in a May 26 post on Facebook.
“Whatever the reason for the 2 am doorbell ring, the visitor’s hopes were unfortunately dashed as the homeowner’s thought it best not to answer the door,” the department said. “With that said, please rest assured that whether mountain lion or just, really, REALLY big cat, the proper authorities (Animal Control and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife) have been notified.”
Photos from the doorbell camera show what clearly looks like a mountain lion passing by the home in the middle of the night.
“That’s no domestic cat!” someone said in the comments on the post. “Looks like a mountain lion to me!”
The department reminded residents to be mindful of possible mountain lions in the area.
“Please pay special attention to pets kept outdoors, and refrain from chasing, attempting to take photos of, or otherwise antagonizing the animal if spotted,” the department said. “As this is a wild animal, there is a strong likelihood that it will or has already returned to the hills from whence it came. If there is a safety concern regarding the animal’s behaviors, please let us know. If, on the other hand, the lion is just lying around, we ask that you please leave dispatch lines open and available for emergency calls.”
Another California town farther south has also experienced “multiple” mountain lion sightings over the last week, the Ojai Police Department said in a May 22 post on Facebook.
And though mountain lion sightings tend to be less common in the northern portion of the state than in Southern California, a cougar was spotted a short distance away from Fairfield in downtown Vacaville in August, McClatchy News previously reported.
Fairfield is about a 40-mile drive southwest from Sacramento.
A mountain lion was also recently spotted casually strolling through a neighborhood in Watsonville, about a 50-mile drive southwest from San Jose, McClatchy News reported.
This story was originally published May 27, 2025 at 5:28 PM with the headline "Apex predator prowls through California yard and triggers doorbell camera. See it."
