Full Notification

*FINAL UPDATE*
San Mateo Police Department, with assistance from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, safely captured a mountain lion Monday afternoon. This effort culminated after hours of police efforts to maintain visual contact with the animal, and keep neighbors informed and safely away from the animal as it wandered through a residential neighborhood off Alameda de las Pulgas.
 
After a significant and dedicated effort of resources, the mountain lion was tranquilized around 2:20 p.m. on the 300 block of Jackson Street, before being transported to a safe location within its natural habitat.
 
San Mateo police were first called around 9:35 a.m. on a report of a resident seeing a mountain lion walking in the backyard of a home on the 500 block of Virginia Avenue. The witness reported the mountain lion was not acting predatory or aggressive.  
 
San Mateo Police responded and conducted a systematic search of the area when we located the mountain lion on Alameda de las Pulgas between Crystal Springs and Georgetown Ave. San Mateo police used multiple forms of communication to issue alerts and instruct residents in the area to shelter in place while officers formed a moving perimeter around the animal.
 
A warden with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife responded and with assistance from San Mateo Police was able to safely tranquilize the mountain lion. The puma will be relocated with assistance from the Santa Cruz Puma Project, a collaboration between the University of California at Santa Cruz and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
 
“The safety of our community is our highest priority, and this was a dedicated team effort on behalf of our first responders and California Department of Fish and Wildlife to track, tranquilize and safely transport the puma back to its natural wildland habitat, ensuring it would not be a threat to residential areas. It is noteworthy that this is the second successful humane capture of a mountain lion that wandered into residential areas creating a danger, and shows our commitment to not harming these beautiful wild land creatures,” said Chief Susan Manheimer, “this highlights the commitment of our city to protecting and preserving both our natural and manmade environment.”

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/
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**UPDATE**
3:37p.m.
The mountain lion was safely tranquilized by Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and will transported to it's natural habitat. The request to stay indoors has been lifted. More information to follow.
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** UPDATE**
1:00p.m.
We are still working closely with Dept of Fish and Wildlife to resolve the contact with the mountain lion safely. Please continue to avoud the area until further notice. Thank you. 
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*UPDATE*
11:50 a.m.
CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife has arrived. We are working together to quickly and safely resolve this contact for our community and for the mountain lion. Thank you for the patience. 
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*UPDATE*
July 16, 2018 11:12 p.m.
San Mateo Police Officers located the mountain lion on Alameda De Las Pulgas between Crystal Springs and Georgetown. Our officers have a moving perimeter around the animal and it is not behaving aggressively. Department of Fish and Wildlife have been notified and they are responding to the scene.

Please AVOID the area. For our local residents in and around the 400 block of Alameda De Las Pulgas please bring in any children and animal remain indoors until further notice.

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This morning, at about 9:35 a.m., a mountain lion was seen walking into the backyard of a residence located on the 500 block of Virginia Av. The witnesses reported that the mountain lion never acted predatory or aggressive in anyway. San Mateo Police Officers are currently in the area searching for the animal. We are asking the residents in the area to bring children and pets indoors until we are able to investigate the reports. An update will be issued shortly.