A quiet Friday morning in north Davis turned tense after reports of a mountain lion near Wintun Place and Washoe Street sent police officers and a drone sweeping through the neighborhood. Officers canvassed the streets on foot, checked backyards from above and, after an extensive search, still came up empty. No injuries were reported.
Police response
The Davis Police Department said the report came in just before 10 a.m., and the agency pushed out an alert while officers moved into the area, according to The Sacramento Bee. Officers set up positions around the neighborhood and conducted a detailed search on the ground and by drone, but they were not able to confirm that the big cat was still in the area.
Safety advice from officials
Police urged residents to keep children and pets close, avoid jogging or biking alone in isolated stretches, and not to approach or try to follow any big cat, no matter how calm it might look. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife offers similar guidance and tells people to report non-emergency mountain lion sightings through its Wildlife Incident Reporting system. For immediate danger, officials say to call 911; for non-emergencies, contact the Davis Police non-emergency line at (530) 747-5400.
What to do if you see one
The National Park Service advises people not to run from a mountain lion, since running can trigger a chase instinct, according to the National Park Service. Instead, it recommends making yourself look larger by raising your arms, speaking loudly, and throwing objects if the animal comes closer. If a lion attacks, the agency says to fight back aggressively with whatever you can grab. The goal is to convince the lion that you are not prey.
Why sightings happen
A similar report along a north-city bike path in mid-May rattled cyclists and prompted fresh warnings from police, after a lion reportedly crashes their commute. State wildlife officials say young, dispersing male mountain lions sometimes roam long distances along creeks and greenways, which can carry them straight into neighborhoods and trail corridors, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
How to report a sighting
Officials say that if you see a mountain lion acting aggressively or believe there is an immediate threat, you should call 911 right away. For non-emergency sightings, residents are asked to contact the Davis Police Department at 530-747-5400 and provide the location along with any photos or video, if it is safe to capture them.
