Retired KTVU reporter Lloyd LaCuesta had an unexpected headline in his own backyard today, when a mountain lion quietly padded through his Redwood City yard, startling neighbors and turning a quiet block into a real-life nature segment. LaCuesta grabbed his camera and captured video that quickly made the rounds online.
Video Shows The Cat In The Yard
According to KTVU, the short clip shows the tawny big cat slipping along the edge of a residential yard before melting back into nearby vegetation. The station identified LaCuesta as the resident who spotted the animal and shared the footage on Friday, turning a fleeting moment into a neighborhood sensation.
Redwood City Urges Caution
Redwood City’s parks guidance reminds residents to keep pets and small children close, steer clear of approaching any wildlife and report mountain lion sightings in city parks to the Parks Department. For local safety tips and reporting details, the city directs people to its dedicated mountain lion safety page, according to Redwood City.
State Guidance And Reporting
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife notes that mountain lions live across much of California, while verified attacks on people remain very rare. The agency asks the public to report sightings through its Wildlife Incident Reporting system, or to call 911 if there is an immediate threat. Its mountain lion page also lays out how to identify the animals, understand their behavior and respond safely if you encounter one, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Why The Bay Area Sees Occasional Cougars
Wildlife biologists say juvenile mountain lions sometimes roam long distances as they disperse, which can land them in suburban neighborhoods on the Peninsula and elsewhere around the Bay Area. Earlier this year, a wayward mountain lion grabbed headlines after wandering into San Francisco, where it was tranquilized and relocated, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Officials are asking anyone who photographed or filmed Friday’s animal to hang on to the footage and share it with state and local authorities. Those clips can help track the cat’s movements and support efforts to protect both residents and pets. For reporting tools and full safety guidance, officials point to the resources from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Redwood City linked above.
