Elusive big cat spotted roaming through California backyards in middle of the night
At least one feline much bigger than your average neighborhood cat was spotted roaming through California backyards in the middle of the night, home surveillance videos show.
The Milpitas Police Department posted Ring camera videos of a mountain lion’s excursion through at least two neighborhoods on its social media accounts Wednesday, May 29.
One shows the cougar prowling through what appears to be a narrow path between two homes in the Friendly Village Mobile Home Park at 2 a.m., the department said in a Facebook post. The mountain lion then turns a corner into what looks like the home’s front or back yard.
It was spotted on the west side of the complex near the Bay Area Rapid Transit train tracks, the department said. Officers canvassed the area and used drones with thermal imaging software but didn’t find the mountain lion.
The California Department of Fish and Game and pest control were notified, the police department said.
A little over two hours later, a home’s Ring camera in a neighborhood about two miles south spotted a mountain lion strolling down another narrow path along the home’s outdoor patio. The department sent officers to that area as well and did not say whether officials believe it was the same animal.
The mountain lion pauses for a moment before leaping over a tall fence that appears to be separating the home’s front and back yards. A sitting area with a table and chairs in the next door neighbor’s patio can be seen on the other side.
The department urged residents — “especially joggers and bicyclists” — to be cautious and to bring pets indoors while the mountain lion may be present in the neighborhoods. Pets shouldn’t be let outside without close supervision and should be kept on a leash while out on a walk.
“If you happen to see a mountain lion, do not approach it and running is not recommended. Running can often entice a predatory animal to chase,” the department said. “Instead, try to appear larger than the lion by waving your arms and speaking in a loud firm voice. These mannerisms may cause the mountain lion to see you as a danger and leave the area.”
Anyone who sees mountain lions should call 911 to report it to the police, the department said.
Milpitas is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, about a 10-mile drive north from San Jose.
This story was originally published May 30, 2024 at 2:57 PM with the headline "Elusive big cat spotted roaming through California backyards in middle of the night."
