Mountain Lion That Entered San Mateo County School Safely Removed

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — A mountain lion that walked onto school grounds at Pescadero High School on Wednesday morning was safely removed and taken to the Oakland Zoo for a health assessment, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

The mountain lion, which the sheriff's office said was a male between four and six months old, was contained to an English classroom by a "swift-acting custodian" after entering the school around 8:23 a.m., according to an update by the sheriff's office.

No one was injured during the encounter and students and staff were sent home after the animal was sighted.

Ken Paglia, a spokesperson from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said that every year they get a handful of calls about mountain lion sightings in San Mateo County.

Paglia said that this type of incident usually happens when a young mountain lion is looking for new territory and passes through urban developments to find its new habitat. This may have been the case with the one spotted at the school on Wednesday.

"If you see a mountain lion, respect the animal and give it space," Paglia said, adding that people should contact local law enforcement for encounters like the one that occurred at the school.