Mountain Lion Sighting on Glendora Mountain Road Prompts Warning

After a recent mountain lion sighting on Glendora Mountain Road, wildlife officials are urging residents to exercise caution when venturing out into the trails and surrounding wilderness.

Marianne Barrosa was jogging along Glendora Mountain Road with her dog when they encountered young mountain lion on the road Thursday morning.

“I just grabbed my dog and blew my whistle to try to scare it away,” Barrosa, a Glendora resident said. “The mountain lion didn’t bother us and went away soon after.”

Andrew Hughan, public affairs officer for the California Department of Fish and Game, said mountain lion sightings are rare during the day, although he said they usually come out at night to hunt for prey.

Hughan said mountain lions generally leave humans alone, although small dogs could often be targets for food.

“People should keep their pets safe, and shouldn’t jog or hike out by themselves at night,” Hughan said.

If you should encounter a mountain lion, Hughan said the best tactic to scare them away is to yell and wave your arms to appear larger.

According to Hughan, mountain lion attacks on humans are extremely rare, but they can turn on humans if provoked.

“They are very typically afraid of humans,” said Hughan. “They are probably more afraid of you than you are of them.”

Other tips include:

• Avoid hiking or jogging during dawn, dusk, and at night. These are times mountain lions are most active and looking for food.
• Keep a close watch on small children.
• If attacked, fight back.

For more information on mountain lion safety, visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/lion.html