DNA Proves Mountain Lion Snatched Dog From Inside Peninsula Home, Wildlife Officials Say

PESCADERO, CA – Officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife have confirmed that it was indeed a mountain lion that snatched a dog last week from a home in the unincorporated San Mateo County community of Pescadero. Sheriff's officials and the homeowner had speculated that the animal was a mountain lion, but now DNA proves that it was.

"Due to the nature of the report, the wildlife officer drove the blood sample to the CDFW Wildlife Forensics Laboratory in Sacramento the same day," the CDFW says. "Forensic analysis confirmed the blood found in the home was predominantly domestic dog, with trace amounts of mountain lion DNA, confirming a mountain lion had entered the home and taken the dog."

The incident happened on April 17, at around 3 a.m. at a home in the 800 block of Native Sons Road in the town of Pescadero. A woman told authorities that she and her child were asleep, with their 15-pound Portuguese Podengo at the foot of the bed, when they woke to a mountain lion in their room.

"This bedroom has French doors that were partially left open to let their dog out," the sheriff's office said in a news release. "At about 3:00 am the dog began barking aggressively which woke up the adult witness."

"The witness states when she looked up at the French doors she saw a shadow of an animal enter the room, take the small dog from the bed and then walked out," sheriff's officials said.

Sheriff's deputies went to the home and also saw what they believe were mountain lion prints and they got in touch with wildlife officials. Later that morning, a wildlife officer went to the home and did not see any prints but collected some blood, which was analyzed.

Mountain lions rarely go into a person's home. They are usually elusive and rarely seen, according to wildlife officials. However, it is common for mountain lions to kill domestic animals, Fish and Wildlife Capt. Patrick Foy said.

"CDFW stresses that this lion's behavior is extremely rare," Foy said. "Most mountain lions are elusive in nature and rarely seen."

The lion probably killed the dog for food, according to Foy.

State wildlife officials urge residents to secure their property and pets, particularly if they live in an area with a lot of wildlife. The home in Pescadero was in an area where there are few other homes, Foy said.

The homeowner could get a permit to kill the mountain lion but chose not to. Wildlife officials won't do anything else related to the case.

For more information about staying safe in areas where mountain lions live, people can go to http://www.wildlife.ca.gov/keep-me-wild/lion.

– Bay City News Service contributed to this report / Image via Shutterstock