Lion Sightings Seem To Be Climbing In SGV. This May be Why.

LOS ANGELES, CA — What could be more disconcerting than discovering a mountain lion in your front yard? Checking your doorbell camera and discovering the lion spent the night pacing outside your front door.

A homeowner in Monrovia did just that and realized a lion seemed unusually interested in her front porch Sunday night.

The sighting is the latest in a series of recent lion sightings in the foothills around the San Gabriel Mountains including in Monrovia, Sierra Madre and in La Verne, where a lion attacked a schnauzer in a backyard earlier this month.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials are monitoring the activity and warning residents to take precautions.

Since the dog was attacked Feb. 12, there have been several sightings of lion - typically in the morning. Two sightings were reported in Sierra Madre on the morning of Feb. 22. The locations were near open space.

"Because one of the reports was near a school, CDFW went to Sierra Madre and worked out of the City office, just to be nearby in case the lion was sighted again and any CDFW response was needed," according to Jessica West, a California Department of Fish and Wildlife Human-Wildlife Conflict Specialist.

The Department also was contacted by the Monrovia Police Department after a number of residents raised concerns about a lion in the area, she added.

It's not likely to be the same lion being spotted in the different communities.

"While it would be fairly unlikely that the La Verne lion would be the same lion being seen in the other communities around the San Gabriel Mountain foothills, without an ear tag, GPS collar, or other identifiable marking/characteristic, we would not be able to know for sure," said West. "Reporting data has shown over the last few years that we do receive an increase in sightings/incidents this time of year."

There are a number of possible explanations for all the sightings ranging from sub-adult lions searching for their own territories, mating season, and females seeking food for their kittens, according to West.

It may also be that there are just more security cameras around to catch the big cats roaming as well as more awareness of the animals in the aftermath of the schnauzer attack, added West.

"Nothing out of the ordinary for lions or other wildlife to be seen occasionally wandering through these foothill communities," added West. "Best recommendations as always are to be aware of activity, recreate in groups, and keep pets on leash/indoors overnight!"

See Also:

SEE ALSO:

• Video Shows Lion Stalked By Larger Lion Before Fatal 405 Crossing
• Famous P-22 Mountain Lion Goes For Walk Deep In The City
• Famous Griffith Park Mountain Lion Shacks Up in Mansion's Crawl Space
• Celebrity Cougar P-22 Receives New Collar,
• Status Update Lion Becomes Instant Legend For Crossing The 405 Freeway
• It's A Girl! Meet LA's Newest Mountain Lion Mountain
• Lion Killed Trying to Cross the Freeway
• P-22 Mountain Lion To Be Featured In Nature Mural In Watts
• Mountain Lion Spotted Prowling LA County Neighborhood
• Mountain Lion Injures Man Who Protected His Dog From An Attack