A routine ride turned a lot more wild on Wednesday when a mountain lion was spotted near a busy bike path north of downtown Davis, triggering a police advisory to cyclists and nearby neighbors. The big cat was reported in the area of Kestrel Place, where officers quickly took up positions and alerted state wildlife officials. No injuries have been reported, but authorities are urging residents to keep children and pets close and to skip jogging or biking alone in the more isolated stretches of trail for now.
Police and wildlife officials respond
In an alert, the Davis Police Department said the sighting was reported to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and that officers were actively monitoring the area, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. Police are asking anyone who spots a mountain lion to call 911 immediately and report the sighting. Officers were stationed around Kestrel Place while wildlife officials worked to determine whether the animal was still moving through the corridor.
How common are mountain lion visits?
Mountain lion sightings in the Sacramento region are uncommon, but they do crop up when animals use waterways and open-space corridors to move around, The Sacramento Bee reported. The Bee noted that wildlife experts say young male cougars sometimes roam long distances in search of new territory, which can bring them through developed neighborhoods on their way to somewhere else. Residents are being reminded that, while these encounters are rare, they are unpredictable enough to warrant extra caution.
How to stay safe
State wildlife officials say the rules are simple but serious: do not approach a mountain lion, keep children and pets close, and avoid running or riding alone at dawn and dusk, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. CDFW points people to its Wildlife Incident Reporting system for non-emergency reports and says to call 911 if there is any immediate danger. Officials also recommend carrying a phone, traveling in groups, and making some noise on trails to cut down the chances of startling a big cat.
What to expect next
Officers are expected to keep an eye on the area while CDFW follows up on the report, and the city could issue more warnings if additional sightings come in, The San Francisco Chronicle said. Until an all-clear is given, riders and walkers along the north Davis corridors are being urged to stay alert and treat the path a little more like wildlife territory than usual.
