Santa Clara County residents are reporting an increase in
mountain lion sightings near local creeks. A juvenile lion was hit
by two cars Friday at Watsonville and Day roads near Uvas Creek and
Chitactac – Adams Park. The animal had to be euthanized at the
scene by sheriff
’s deputies.
Santa Clara County residents are reporting an increase in mountain lion sightings near local creeks. A juvenile lion was hit by two cars Friday at Watsonville and Day roads near Uvas Creek and Chitactac – Adams Park. The animal had to be euthanized at the scene by sheriff’s deputies.
While the chance of an attack by a mountain lion is considered rare, residents are being urged to use caution while on creekside trails or in parks near local waterways.
Officials with the Santa Clara County Vector Control District – which is responsible for assisting the community with problems from rodents, wildlife and insects – and the Santa Clara Valley Water District – which oversees the more than 700 miles of streams in the county – are working together to post warning signs along creeks with confirmed mountain lion sightings.
So far, signs have been posted along the Alamitos Creek Trail in the Almaden Valley area of San Jose, Smith Creek in Los Gatos and Coyote Creek, between Yerba Buena Road and Silver Creek Road in San Jose.
A mountain lion has also been reported behind Gavilan Community College on the southwest side of Gilroy. Warning signs have been posted for several years throughout the college campus.
Wildlife experts are not sure why mountain lions are continuing to move down from surrounding hillsides, but think they may be following deer into the valley’s stream beds. About half of the state is considered prime mountain lion habitat and mountain lions don’t interact well with humans. The state Department of Fish and Game describes the feline as a calm, quiet and elusive animal.
Warning signs posted along affected creeks advise hikers and joggers to use common sense when using creekside trails and parks including:
• Do not hike alone. Go in groups with adults supervising children.
• Keep children close to you. Animals seem especially drawn to children; keep children within sight at all times.
• Do not run from a lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase.
• Give the animal a way to escape. Most mountain lions try to avoid contact.
• Do not crouch down or bend over. A human standing does not resemble a mountain lion’s natural prey. A person squatting or bending over looks more like a cat’s natural prey (four-legged mammals) than a standing human.
• Do all you can to try and appear larger. Raise your arms. Open jacket if wearing one. Pick up small children. Throw stones or branches, but don’t crouch or turn your back. Wave arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice.
• Fight back if attacked. Mountain lions usually try to bite the head or neck; try to remain standing and face the attacking animal. Many victims have successfully fended off an attack using rocks, jackets, garden tools and their bare hands.
Tips are also listed for people who live in lion country. They include:
• Don’t feed wildlife: By feeding raccoons or deer in your yard you attract their predators, such as the mountain lion.
• Deer-proof landscape. If you have plants that deer prefer, it will attract mountain lions.
• Remove dense vegetation. Thick brush provides safe hiding places for mountain lions.
• Install outdoor lighting around the perimeter of the house and along walkways to keep lions visible.
• Keep pets secure. Roaming pets are easy prey.
• Don’t feed pets outside. It will attract mountain lions.
• Keep children safe. Watch them while they play outdoors and make them come inside between dusk and dawn. Teach them what to do if a lion approaches.
The warning signs also instruct residents who encounter a mountain lion to report it to the California Department of Fish and Game by calling (916) 445-0045.
For an educational brochure about living with mountain lions, or for more information, contact the Santa Clara County Vector Control District at 792-5010.
