Mountain Lion Seen In Laguna Beach Monday Morning

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A familiar furry face has once again been spotted in Orange County. Male mountain lion "M317" was seen twice within the city during the early hours of Monday morning, a spokesperson for the City of Laguna Beach said.

The mountain lion is the very same big cat that was spotted running through the city streets of Irvine in March, authorities confirmed.

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M317 was first seen near Catalina and Calliope streets at 11:30 p.m. Sunday night, authorities said. Hours later, officers with the Laguna Beach Police Department reported spotting the big cat in the 600 block of S. Coast Highway between Cleo and Legion streets at around 1:30 a.m.

"In all sightings, including last evening, M317 has shown appropriate fear of humans," Laguna Beach authorities said.

The tracked mountain lion has been roaming the Aliso Woods Canyon area since April 25. Mission Viejo Animal Services Spokesman Kyle Werner told NBC Los Angeles that mountain lions commonly use green belts to travel safely through territories.

"It isn't uncommon for them to pass through semi-residential areas using those green belts," Werner told NBC Los Angeles. "It's usually in the evening, early morning hours, that they're spotted."

The City of Laguna Beach, in partnership with OC Parks and University of California Davis researchers, will continue to monitor the mountain lion's movements. Authorities urged Laguna Beach residents to keep in mind the following safety tips to avoid being hurt by a mountain lion:

• Don’t walk alone, bring a friend.
• Wear bright and highly contrasting clothing.
• Watch for signs and trail postings.
• Avoid jogging or mountain biking in low-light conditions at dusk and dawn.
• Stay on the trail.
• Supervise children and keep them within arm’s reach.
• Keep pets on a secure leash.
• Keep pets indoors.
• Don’t approach any wild animal.
• Give wildlife the time and space to steer clear of you.
• If you see a mountain lion, try to look as large as you can and do not crouch down.