Community Corner
Mountain Lion Trapped In Sonoma County Yard Cared For At Oakland Zoo
It was at least the second mountain lion to be in a Bay Area back yard this week.
SANTA ROSA, CA — The Oakland Zoo is caring for a sick mountain lion that a resident of Santa Rosa said was in her yard since Friday and couldn't jump the fence to escape.
Officers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife tranquilized the male mountain lion and took him to the zoo Tuesday. Zoo veterinarians took blood samples and x-rays and estimated the 60-pound lion to be about 1 year old.
"We don't know how long he will stay or how long he will need treatment," said Isabella Linares, the Oakland Zoo's marketing manager. "He is severely emaciated, loaded with parasites, and could possibly be suffering from a virus. We're not out of the woods yet, and we must take this day by day."
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It's at least the second mountain lion to be in a Bay Area backyard this week.
Livermore police said there was a mountain lion in someone's backyard Monday morning, near Findlay Way and Hillcrest Avenue. Animal control officers said it was also a juvenile male that likely came from nearby open space and may have been looking for water.
Find out what's happening in Petalumafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Wildlife officials said mountain lions occasionally wander into urban environments and will return to their natural habitat on their own. If someone sees a mountain lion, it's best to report it to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife so they have a complete list of sightings and can determine if intervention is needed.
Officials also recommend keeping pets and animals indoors, especially at night. People should not approach or otherwise attempt to interact with or capture a mountain lion, and if they do come across one, they should not run. Instead, face the animal, stand upright, wave one's arms, and make noise to scare the animal off.
They also suggest installing motion-sensitive lighting around the house, trimming brush to reduce hiding places and always practice situational awareness.
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