Mountain Lion Reported In San Ramon Backyard

SAN RAMON, CA — Police on Friday alerted the community to a mountain lion sighting on Lilac Ridge Road in San Ramon. Police said a resident spotted the big cat in the backyard of their home. Officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are aware of the sighting, according to police.

In December, a trail camera captured a clear photo of a mountain lion in the Thomas Ranch area along Norris Canyon Road near San Ramon. In October, a wayward mountain lion made national headlines after he was found hunkered down in the bushes of a commercial business park in Pleasanton. Authorities safely captured the young animal and released it several hours later in the Sunol Regional Wilderness area.

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While it would be rare for a mountain lion to approach humans, you can follow a few simple rules to keep you and your family safe:

• Do not feed deer. It is illegal in California and it will attract mountain lions.
• If you see a mountain lion DO NOT APPROACH IT, especially one that is feeding or with offspring. Most mountain lions will try to avoid confrontation.
• Avoid hiking or jogging through wooded areas when mountain lions are most active—dawn, dusk, or at night.
• Keep a close watch on small children when hiking or traveling in or about wooded areas.
• If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms; throw rocks or other objects. Pick up small children.
• For more information about mountain lions click here.