A quiet Yucaipa neighborhood is rattled after a mountain lion slipped into a backyard over the weekend and killed two large family dogs, according to the owners. Security camera images and the family’s account show the big cat entering the yard and later returning with the dogs’ bodies.
What residents say happened
Laurie Schultz told KTLA that a cougar hopped a fence at the family’s home on Limekiln Drive sometime between about 7:50 and 8:20 a.m. on Saturday. The animal went into an indoor-outdoor enclosure where the family’s dogs were kept and attacked them. The family says their home security system recorded both attacks.
The dogs and the footage
The dogs, Summer, a 65-pound Anatolian shepherd, and Winter, a 90-pound Siberian husky, did not survive, according to the family and local reporters. Roger Schultz told reporters that the mountain lion later returned, dragged Summer over a five-foot fence and carried the dog to a den roughly 150 yards from the yard. The family’s security footage has been aired by Fox 11 Los Angeles.
Officials step in and offer guidance
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says its biologists plan to speak with the family, assess what happened and decide on an appropriate response. The department recommends that residents supervise pets when they are outdoors and use secure enclosures, especially near wildland areas. The agency’s Human-Wildlife Conflicts Toolkit includes specific tips for people living close to wildlife habitat. CDFW's toolkit explains how to report incidents and offers advice on reducing risks to pets and livestock.
Why mountain lions show up in Yucaipa
Yucaipa sits along foothills and preserves that function as wildlife corridors, and experts say mountain lions use those routes while hunting or moving between territories. Conservation groups and biologists note that cougars are a regular presence in Southern California foothills and that attacks on people are extremely rare. Pets and livestock, however, can be vulnerable when homes and ranches border wildland areas. For broader context on mountain lion ecology and management, see the Mountain Lion Foundation's overview of California populations.
The Schultz family has urged neighbors to stay alert while officials investigate. CDFW encourages the public to report sightings or depredation through its incident-reporting resources. Local residents who see a mountain lion are advised to keep a safe distance, secure pets and contact local authorities or CDFW if they observe threatening behavior.
