Full Notification

On Thursday, September 14, 2017 at about 10:15 PM, Los Altos Police Officers responded to Kring Way on the possible report of a mountain lion growling in the backyard of a residence.  Officers responded and notified Palo Alto Animal Services. 

Upon arrival, Officers did not locate the animal, but a resident later provided a video surveillance clip confirming a mountain lion was roaming the property.  There was an additional sighting reported on Sycamore Court on Saturday, September 10 at about midnight. 

The Los Altos Police Department will be working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Palo Alto Animal Services and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to respond to the sighting.  We are asking that anyone who sees a Mountain Lion in their neighborhood please call 9-1-1 or the business line at (650) 947-2770. 

Mountain lions are generally solitary and avoid people. To help prevent conflicts with these wild animals, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife suggests the following:

• Trim brush to reduce hiding places for mountain lions
• Don’t leave small children or pets outside unattended
• Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house
• Don’t allow pets outside when mountain lions are most active – dawn, dusk, and at night
• Bring pet food inside to avoid attracting raccoons, opossums and other potential mountain lion prey
• Don’t feed deer; it is illegal in California and will attract mountain lions
• Deer-proof your landscaping by avoiding plants deer like to eat

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. If attacked, fight back.

Mountain Lion fact sheet:
https://www.openspace.org/sites/default/files/Mountain_Lion_Facts.pdf

More information on mountain lions:
https://www.openspace.org/visit-a-preserve/plants-wildlife/mountain-lions