Community Alert: Large Mountain Lion Sighting in Apple Valley Neighborhood

APPLE VALLEY, Calif. (VVNG.com) Residents in an Apple Valley neighborhood were alerted to a mountain lion spotted in the area of Kiowa and Tussing Ranch Roads on the night of Feb. 3.

Trisha Morrison captured images of the mountain lion and shared it to a public Facebook group with the exact location to warn others of where the wild cat was spotted in hopes of keeping others safe.

Dozens heeded the warning and brought pets inside, according to comments on Victor Valley News.

But for one dog the warning came to late.

“We think [a mountain lion] got our dog,” stated Scantlebury, “it looks pretty bad. We are over by Kiowa and Yucca Loma (Roads.)”

Scantlebury’s dog, a Boxer-Pit mix, sustained wound to its face and leg. She lives near Kiowa and Central Roads in Apple Valley.

However Morrison said she later regretted posting the photo and video she took because of the risk it posed to the cat, and asked for the photo to be removed due the risk until the proper officials were notified.

“I really didn’t think anything about it being shared until people were driving around us searching for her,“ Morrison said.

In 1990, California made mountain lion hunting illegal with the passage of Proposition 117, which designated mountain lions as “specially protected species.”

“We lost two (dogs) by a bobcat 8 years ago. A few feet from our doggy door. So warning people is what I like to do. I’m just appalled by people’s behaviors,” Morrison said about those threatening to harm the wild cat.

This status and other statutes prohibit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife from recommending a hunting season for lions, and it is illegal to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell any mountain lion or part of a mountain lion.

As a reminder, here are a few safety tips regarding mountain lions:

While again it would be rare for a mountain lion to approach humans, you can follow a few simple rules to keep you and your family safe:

• Do not feed deer.  It is illegal in California and it will attract mountain lions.
• If you see a mountain lion DO NOT APPROACH IT, especially one that is feeding or with offspring. Most mountain lions will try to avoid confrontation.
• Avoid hiking or jogging through wooded areas when mountain lions are most active—dawn, dusk, or at night.
• Keep a close watch on small children when hiking or traveling in or about wooded areas.
• If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms; throw rocks or other objects. Pick up small children.
• For more information about mountain lions click here www.keepmewild.org

Mountain lions are not threatened nor endangered in California. In fact, the lion population is relatively high in California and their numbers appear to be stable. Mountain lions are legally classified as “specially protected species”. This has nothing to do with their relative abundance and does not imply that they are rare. 

For more information on mountain lions and other wildlife that may visit residential areas please go to the website for California Department of Fish and Wildlife: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/