Mountain Lion Sightings Reported in Two Peninsula Cities on Same Night

Two mountain lion sightings have now been reported on the Peninsula in one night this week.

The first sighting occurred around 8 p.m. when a person saw a lion jump over a fence and into a creek bed behind a property in the area of Fernwood Street and West Hillsdale Boulevard, San Mateo police said. The intersection is located south of Hillsdale High School.

Officials from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife were notified of the incident, police said.

Less than four hours later, a passing motorist reported seeing a mountain lion in San Carlos, according to San Mateo County emergency officials.

The big cat was spotted at 11:22 p.m. and reportedly ran north along San Carlos Avenue in the vicinity of Beverly Drive, but responding sheriff’s deputies were not able to locate the animal during a subsequent search of the area.

The second sighting was about 3 miles southeast of the first one.

Residents are advised not to approach a mountain lion if they encounter one. Instead, residents are advised to make themselves look larger and slowly back away, then call the sheriff’s office to report the incident.

People should not hike or jog in wooded areas during dawn, dusk or night hours when lions are likely to be most active, according to police.

The San Mateo County sheriff’s dispatch can be reached at (650) 363-4911. More information on mountain lions can be found by visiting http://www.keepmewild.org.

– Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

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