Crime & Safety
Mountain Lion Spotted on East Side of Pleasanton
The big cat was spotted by firefighters this morning near the Pleasanton Operations Center on Busch Road.
On October 28, about 4:30 AM, fire crews spotted a mountain lion at the City of Pleasanton Operations Service Center, located at 3333 Busch Road. The mountain lion did not approach the firemen but rather was laying in a grassy area of the service yard.
There have been previous sightings of mountain lions in this general region (between Mohr Avenue and the open space behind the City of Pleasanton Operations Service Center) but no reported attacks on people or pets.
Although these incidents are rare, residents are reminded that they do occur as a result of our rural surroundings, particularly in areas that are adjacent to open space. Caution must be exercised if a mountain lion is spotted and the Pleasanton Police Department should be notified immediately by calling (925) 931-5100, or 911 if the sighting involves imminent danger.
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The Pleasanton Police Department offers the following recommendations to ensure public safety:
Avoid hiking or jogging alone in parklands or rural areas. Mountain lions in particular, are most active during the early morning, evening, and nighttime hours.
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Never approach a mountain lion. If confronted by one, do not run! Instead, face the animal, stand upright, wave your arms, and make noise in an effort to scare the animal off.
Do not feed deer; it is illegal in California and doing so attracts mountain lions.
Deer-proof landscaping by avoiding plants that deer like to eat.
Trim brush to reduce hiding places for mountain lions.
Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
Don’t allow pets outside during times when mountain lions are most active, dawn, dusk, and at night.
Bring pet food inside to avoid attracting raccoons, opossum, and other potential mountain lion prey.
Awareness of your surroundings combined with implementation of these recommendations is the best way to avoid an encounter with a mountain lion. Pleasanton residents should be careful but continue to enjoy the city’s many parks and amenities. Mountain lions are more likely to avoid people and retreat into rural areas in most instances.
For further information, please visit the City of Pleasanton website at www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us and click on the Police Services tab. For specific information about mountain lion sightings and encounters, please visit the California Department of Fish and Game website at www.dfg.ca.gov/news/issues/lion, or www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/docs/lionbrochure.pdf.
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