Full Notification

Good evening,

This is a Community Alert UPDATE from your San Mateo Police Department with special attention to our neighbors in and around the area of 20th Avenue and La Salle Drive. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PHOTO

Today, just before 8pm, San Mateo Police Officers responded to a report of a mountain lion in the area of 20th Avenue and La Salle Drive. Officers responded within minutes and quickly set up a perimeter to attempt to locate the animal. Area residents were asked to shelter-in-place by officers on scene and via a Rapid Notify Alert message. Officers remained in the area for approximately one hour, before ultimately breaking down the perimeter. Officials from the Department of Fish and Wildlife were notified.

Please note that although the San Mateo Police Department was unable to locate the Mountain Lion, a local resident did capture a photo of the animal and officers confirmed the photo to be a Mountain Lion. Officers will continue to perform frequent checks of the area.

This alert is to request that residents remain vigilant and contact the police department IMMEDIATELY should the Mountain Lion be sighted again.

The San Mateo Police Department would like to remind you of a few simple tips to protect you and your loved ones from mountain lions:

PLEASE REMEMBER THESE SAFETY TIPS REGARDING MOUNTAIN LIONS

While again it would be rare for a mountain lion to approach humans, you can follow a few simple rules to keep you and your family safe:

•Do not feed deer. It is illegal in California and it will attract mountain lions. •If you see a mountain lion DO NOT APPROACH IT, especially one that is feeding or with offspring. Most mountain lions will try to avoid confrontation.

•Avoid hiking or jogging through wooded areas when mountain lions are most active—dawn, dusk, or at night. •Keep a close watch on small children when hiking or traveling in or about wooded areas.

•If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms; throw rocks or other objects. Pick up small children.

•For more information about mountain lions click here www.keepmewild.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MOUNTAIN LIONS PLEASE GO TO THE WEBSITE FOR THE FROM CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/