Community Corner
Mountain Lion Spotted In Rohnert Park Neighborhood
Mountain lion spotted in Rohnert Park: what to know about sharing habitat with these big cats.
ROHNERT PARK-COTATI, CA — A mountain lion moved through a quiet Rohnert Park neighborhood Wednesday morning, startling residents and prompting police to urge people to stay alert while officials monitor the area.
Police said someone spotted the big cat in the G Section of Rohnert Park, a neighborhood bordered by Holly Avenue and Snyder Lane in the northeastern part of the city, the Press Democrat reported.
Residents should remain aware of their surroundings, but police said the animal does not appear to pose an immediate threat to the public safety.
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The sighting is the latest in a series of mountain lion encounters reported across the Bay Area in recent months.
Quinton Martins, director of True Wild Conservation based in Glen Ellen, estimated the population of mountain lions in Sonoma County to be about 75, including younger ones.
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They are native to the area and live throughout California, and similar sightings have frequently been reported in Sonoma, Marin, and Napa counties especially around Sebastopol and Forestville.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has recorded 29 verified attacks on 30 people statewide since 1890. Of those, six — or 20 percent — were fatal.
However, residents should try to avoid encounters with mountain lions by taking precautions:
Officials also advised making properties deer-proof to reduce mountain lions' main prey and keeping livestock and pets in secure shelters overnight.
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