Full Notification

This morning, around 10:20 a.m., San Mateo Police responded to the College of San Mateo on a report of possible mountain lion or bobcat sighting. The caller told our dispatchers that the animal was seen at a distance by the baseball field and it walked out of sight into the vegetation towards it’s natural habitat away from the campus. The animal never acted predatory or aggressive in anyway. The Department of Fish & Game were notified. Our officers searched the area for the animal, but it was not located.

This alert is for information only and has been issued only as a precaution to our community.  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