How to resolve AdBlock issue? Authorities said the animal was seen on Tuesday in the 2500 block of Hartley Street, outside of the Lakeport city limits.
The mountain lion, which appeared to be stalking a deer, ran from the area after seeing a human, the sheriff’s office said.
Tuesday’s occurrence is the latest in a series of sightings of mountain lions in and around Lakeport.
Last year there were four reports of mountain lions being spotted within the city between June and December, at locations near the Lake County Fairgrounds and in the forested area between Page Drive and 19th Street, and two incidents near the Lakeport Unified School District campus, as Lake County News has reported.
Although this latest sighting didn’t occur within the city limits, Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen updated the Lakeport City Council about it on Tuesday night.
He said he was notified of it by a Fish and Wildlife investigator because it was not far from the school, where mountain lions were seen twice last year.
Noting last year’s four sightings in the city, Rasmussen explained, “It’s really not uncommon. We live in a rural area and there are a lot of mountain lions around. And where there’s deer, there’s mountain lions. That’s their primary food source.”
He urged people to stay vigilant and said he also had advised the school superintendent of the sighting.
Below is a list offered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for living in and staying safe in mountain lion country, which includes Lake County:
- Don’t feed deer; it is illegal in California and it will attract mountain lions.
- Deer-proof your landscaping by avoiding plants that deer like to eat. For tips, request “A Gardener’s Guide to Preventing Deer Damage” from the agency’s offices.
- 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.
- Provide sturdy, covered shelters for sheep, goats and other vulnerable animals.
- 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.
- Do not hike, bike or jog alone.
- Avoid hiking or jogging when mountain lions are most active – dawn, dusk and at night.
- Keep a close watch on small children.
- Do not approach a mountain lion.
- 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.
- If a mountain lion attacks a person, immediately call 911.
For more information visit https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Keep-Me-Wild/Lion.
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