It might be San Mateo’s equivalent of Bigfoot. Residents in the Peninsula city have reported a series of mysterious mountain lion sightings in recent days, including two this past Sunday.
San Mateo Police said that at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, a resident of the 100 block of Aragon Boulevard reportedly saw a mountain lion jump into his backyard, seize a chicken, and flee.
Around 6 p.m. that same day, someone reported seeing a mountain lion walking either in or near Laurel Creek, near the 3400 block of Glendora.
Police said there is no security camera footage or photos from either of Sunday’s sightings, which occurred nine days after a similar report. On Oct. 28, a mountain lion was spotted jumping into a backyard on Dalehurst Court before leaving the neighborhood at about 10 a.m. Security camera footage captured the lion walking around.
All three sightings occurred within three miles of each other, but it was unknown if they involved the same lion.
Authorities said mountain lions occasionally wander into urban environments and will return to their natural habitat on their own. If someone sees a mountain lion, it is best to report it to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife so they have a complete list of sightings and can determine if intervention is needed.
Officials also recommend keeping pets and animals indoors, especially late at night. Do not approach or otherwise attempt to interact with or capture the mountain lion. If someone does come across a mountain lion, they should not run, but rather face the animal, stand upright, wave their arms, and make noise to scare the animal off.
They also suggest installing motion-sensitive lighting around the house, trimming brush to reduce hiding places and always to practice situational awareness.