UPDATE: Mountain Lion Sighting In Santa Cruz Neighborhood

UPDATE - SUNDAY - The big cat authorities were searching for was found and captured near downtown Santa Cruz on Sunday afternoon, according a report.

KSBW reported that Department of Fish and Wildlife units worked with Santa Cruz police to locate and tranquilize the animal before setting it free back in its natural habitat.

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(original story)

SANTA CRUZ - Police in Santa Cruz say they received a report Saturday of a mountain lion roaming on a city street.

The mountain lion sighting was reported to the department about 3 p.m. The puma was reportedly seen in the area of the 100 block of Escalona Dr.

Police advise residents in that area to use caution, and to secure small pets and children.

The Santa Cruz Police Department - along with State Fish and Game wardens - will continue patrolling the area, looking for signs of the lion.

For more information on how to react to mountain lion sightings and encounters, police refer you to the following websites:

http://www.mountainlion.org/portalprotectencounters.asp

http://santacruzpumas.org/mountain-lion-faq/

-image via California Dept of Fish and Wildlife