Alert on security app says pet was spotted near CA home. ‘That’s a mountain lion’
Several elusive apex predators have been spotted recently in California — then one showed up on a home security camera wearing a tracking collar.
“There have been multiple recent sightings of mountain lions in neighborhoods across our county,” the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said in a May 29 post on Facebook. “This big kitty was spotted the morning of May 27th in an Aptos neighborhood. This follows sightings in the city of Capitola and Watsonville earlier in the month.”
A photo and video show the cougar strolling through a path in what looks like a home’s garden. The conspicuous tracking collar is clearly visible in the video.
The resident who lives there told KSBW his security camera system sent multiple alerts to his phone, the outlet reported.
“I looked at it and it said pet on the app. I’m like, oh, someone’s dog got out, and immediately when I looked closer at the image, it was like, OK, that’s a mountain lion,” Anthony Skelton told the outlet. “It was making its rounds. It must have come from the hills this way or from the creek, which is right over here, and got lost in the neighborhood trying to find its way out.”
The sheriff’s office reminded residents in the area to “stay alert and be cautious.”
“If you encounter a mountain lion, keep these safety tips in mind:
Do not run. Running may trigger its instinct to chase.
Raise your arms.
Open your jacket.
Stand tall and back away slowly while facing the lion.
Make noise. Use a loud, calm voice to assert dominance.
Throw rocks or other objects.
Don’t turn your back; stay facing the lion.
Pick up small children.
Don’t leave small children or pets outside unattended, especially at night.”
Aptos is about a 35-mile drive southwest from San Jose.
This story was originally published May 30, 2025 at 1:27 PM with the headline "Alert on security app says pet was spotted near CA home. ‘That’s a mountain lion’."
