Dead Deer Found After Mountain Lion Spotted in Hillsborough

By Bay City News Service:

A mountain lion was spotted in Hillsborough early Friday morning and a dead deer apparently killed by the big cat was later found in the area, San Mateo County emergency officials said.

A resident in the 500 block of El Cerrito Avenue spotted an animal in a tree around 1 a.m. that they believed to be a mountain lion.

The incident was reported to Hillsborough police at about 8:30 a.m. Officers responded and found a dead deer on the resident’s property with injuries consistent with a predator attack, county officials said.

County animal control and state Fish and Wildlife officials were also notified of the case.

Mountain lions target deer as prey and authorities encourage residents to “deer-proof” their properties by avoiding plants that deer like to eat.

Residents can also trim brush on their properties and install motion-sensitive lights to reduce hiding places for mountain lions.

More information on mountain lions and tips to stay safe in their habitat is available online at www.keepmewild.org.

(Image via Shutterstock)