SLO County couple says 2 of their pet goats were killed this year. Was it a mountain lion?
San Luis Obispo County resident Mary Silberstein said in her 28 years living on Verde Canyon Road off of Corbett Canyon Road, she’s never had any of her animals carried off by a mountain lion.
But in 2024, she’s now lost two goats to a mountain lion in the area, she said.
Lily, a young goat Silberstein and her husband adopted earlier this year, was believed to be the victim of a mountain lion attack Sunday.
Silberstein said she was notified of the 70-pound goat’s killing by an Airbnb renter staying on her property, who found the goat’s body
“Our Airbnb person actually texted us and said, ‘You’re goat’s dead,’” Silberstein said. “They were feeding them, and the goat was just laying there by the fence half-eaten — it had ripped her insides out.”
Silberstein said in her experience, it wasn’t uncommon for packs of coyotes to try to carry off cats and dogs, but goats tend to be another matter.
In January, the Silbersteins lost a 25-pound goat named Carmen under similar circumstances, raising her suspicion that a mountain lion may have moved to the area.
Silberstein said neighbors have spotted a mountain lion on Canyon Way in the days since Lily was killed. She and other neighbors in the area northeast of Arroyo Grande have tried to be more careful with leaving animals and small children unattended following the first incident.
According to a post on Nextdoor by Silberstein’s husband Steve, the Silbersteins are now looking for a new, safer home for their only remaining goat, Cooper.
This isn’t the first reported mountain lion incident in San Luis Obispo County this year — or this week, for that matter.
In July, a dirtbike rider in Arroyo Grande reported being attacked by a mountain lion. DNA testing later indicated the animal was more likely a domestic house cat, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said at the time.
According to Fish and Wildlife information officer Krysten Kellum, an agency biologist confirmed that two other goats were killed by a mountain lion Wednesday in the same area near Highway 227.
Kellum said the area is adjacent to plenty of natural open space and is home to plenty of deer, making it a potential mountain lion ecosystem.
Kellum advised removing dense vegetation form around a property and installing outdoor lighting to reduce hiding spaces, and recommended residents in the area lock up pets and livestock, along with employing a livestock guardian dog as a precaution.
Mountain lion attacks are rare in California
Mountain lion attacks in California are exceedingly rare — especially in San Luis Obispo County.
According to the Fish and Wildlife website, a person is 1,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a mountain lion.
The department said only 24 mountain lion attacks on humans have been reported in California since 1984. The majority of incidents were nonfatal, although in four cases in El Dorado, San Diego and Orange counties, victims died, Fish and Wildlife said.
No attacks have ever been confirmed in San Luis Obispo County, though an attack in Gaviota State Park in Santa Barbara was verified in 1992.
To avoid negative encounters with mountain lions, Fish and Wildlife recommended people stay aware of their surroundings and travel in the wilderness with a companion.
If you encounter a cougar, try to appear larger and more aggressive and never bend or crouch down.
To report encounters or attacks, call the Fish and Wildlife 24-hour dispatch center at 916-445-0045.
This story was originally published August 23, 2024 at 1:09 PM.
