Mountain Lion Spotted On Hiking Trail

BERKELEY HILLS — A mountain lion was spotted last week on a popular hiking trail in the Berkeley Hills, University of California at Berkeley police said Tuesday. Although the sighting was last week, this is a good reminder that they are always nearby.

Police received an "afterthought email" Tuesday about a mountain lion sighting on July 17 at 9 a.m. on the Upper Fire Trail, located in the hills above the UC Berkeley campus, UC police Sgt. Nic Hernandez said.

In the past couple of years, several sightings of mountain lions in the Berkeley hills have been reported, and carcasses of animals likely attacked by mountain lions were also discovered, according to campus police.

A mountain lion's favorite prey is deer. If you see deer or you're in terrain favored by deer, mountain lions may be nearby.

Police offered this advice:

• avoid hiking or jogging alone, especially between dusk and dawn
• hike with a walking stick that can be used as a defensive weapon
• don't run if you encounter a mountain lion
• make noise, wave your arms, and throw rocks or other objects to scare away the animal

— Patch editor Bea Karnes and Bay City News contributed to this story

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