Mountain lion sightings close hiking trail in SLO

If you’re looking to hike in the Irish Hills area, stay away from the Morro View trail.

SLO Parks and Recreation announced Monday that the trail would be closed until further notice due to sightings of a mountain lion and her cub.

The department said the mother and child pair were spotted using an area near the trail as a den.

“As mother mountain lions are known to be extremely protective and territorial around their cubs we have elected to close this trail,” the department said in an Instagram post regarding the closure.

Officials are putting up signs about the mountain lion throughout the Irish Hills area, the department said. They are also installing physical barriers where the closure begins and a game camera so they can better understand the lions’ behavior.

There is no official date for when the trail will reopen, but Parks and Recreation said the trail would be accessible “when we deem it safe for all.”

This story was originally published December 11, 2017 at 10:35 AM with the headline "Mountain lion sightings close hiking trail in SLO."