Full Notification

Today, November 21, 2017 at about 10:30 a.m. San Mateo Police Officers responded to the north-east area of the College of San Mateo campus on a report from Hillsborough Police Department (HPD) of a possible mountain lion sighting. San Mateo Police Officers quickly arrived on scene and searched the area, but could not locate the animal.  HPD advised our officers that they briefly had visual of the animal and it appeared to be a large domestic cat or a small bobcat, NOT a mountain lion. HPD confirmed that the animal walked along the fire access road within the "Wildland-Urban Interface" (areas where residential property backs up to our open spaces populated by non-domesticated wildlife), and faded into the brush. Although this is not a mountain lion sighting, we wanted to keep our community informed. Since the City of San Mateo has areas that are considered “Wildland-Urban Interface” we wanted to take this opportunity to remind you and your family of some safety tips if you ever encounter a mountain lion. 


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