A Fallbrook family says a routine backyard check turned into a wildlife shock this week when they found a mountain lion locked inside a homemade cage trap and dialed 911. State wildlife officers arrived, removed the big cat and later released it back near the same spot, a move that has left the family and nearby residents on edge as they tally missing pets and worry about small children who play in that yard.
Family found the cougar in a trap
According to FOX 5 San Diego, the family says the father-in-law built the cage and the husband went to check it Thursday night, only to find a large mountain lion inside. They called 911 after noticing several animals missing from the property, including chickens and four cats, one of them pregnant, and told the outlet they were stunned by the cat's size and appearance. Sonia Hernandez told FOX 5 she feared for her three children, ages 5 to 9, and said her mother-in-law was distraught over the missing pregnant cat.
State rules guided the release
Wildlife officers showed up yesterday, removed the cougar from the trap and released it into the same general area where it had been caught. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says depredation permits are handled through a stepwise process that prioritizes non-lethal measures and technical assistance to property owners.
Neighbors fear the cat will return
Neighbor Jeanette Villegas told FOX 5 San Diego she is worried the mountain lion could come back because a food source is still nearby. The family also said they were upset that officials released the cougar close to homes instead of relocating it farther into open habitat.
How to protect pets and what to do next
CDFW advises residents to remove attractants, secure chickens and other livestock in predator-proof enclosures, keep pets indoors, especially at dawn and dusk, and clear dense vegetation that could provide cover for big cats. People with confirmed losses or sightings are urged to file a report through the department's Wildlife Incident Reporting system and to contact local law enforcement if an animal poses an immediate threat.
