Mountain Lion Spotted In Man's Front Yard

A mountain lion was spotted lying on the front lawn of a home in Woodside on Tuesday night, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

At approximately 9:45 p.m., the sheriff's office received a call from a resident in the 100 block of Otis Street who was reporting that a 150-to 200-pound cougar was lying on his front lawn, police said.

Deputies arrived and saw the mountain lion lounging on the hillside near the home, according to police. The San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services sent out an alert to nearby households alerting them of the cat's presence and advising them to remain indoors.

Deputies then contacted the state Department of Fish and Game for assistance. A warden from the department arrived, observed that the mountain lion was not being threatening, and recommended that it not be tranquilized, county officials said.

The cat had left the area by 1 a.m., according to the sheriff's office.

Residents are advised not to approach mountain lions, and should avoid hiking or jogging at dawn, dusk and night, when the animals are most active. In the event of a mountain lion encounter, emergency officials advise residents to try to appear large and make noise.

More information about mountain lions can be found at www.keepmewild.org.

--Bay City News