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Safety Warnings Follow Spotting of Mountain Lion in Residential Burbank

Safety Warnings Follow Spotting of Mountain Lion

After a mountain lion was spotted dragging a deer up a driveway in a residential neighborhood of Burbank, police issued safety tips on Thursday.

File photo of a mountain lion in California. (credit: California Department of Fish and Wildlife)

The puma was spotted in the 3300 block of Wedgewood Avenue (map), in the foothills of the Verdugo Mountains, according to a news release from the Burbank Police Department.

The mountain lion was seen at 8:50 p.m. Wednesday, according to police Sgt. Darin Ryburn, and ran away from the area into the mountains when police arrived.

The puma was pulling a deer carcass up the driveway to the back of a residential property, Ryburn said.

Ryburn said no photos of the mountain lion were available.

Though Ryburn said no other sightings had been reported recently, mountain lion appearances in Burbank aren’t especially rare. Several were reported in 2011, the same year two abandoned, emaciated cubs were found under a car and were taken to a Paso Robles wildlife center for rehabilitation.

In April, state wildlife authorities tranquilized a male mountain lion in neighboring Glendale after the puma was spotted in a home’s backyard.

Police offered the following reminders about being safe in mountain lion country, which covers much of Southern California where the animals’ favored prey, deer, are present.

• Do not leave small children or pets outside unattended.
• Do not feed deer; it is illegal in California and it will attract mountain lions.
• Trim brush to reduce hiding places for mountain lions.
• Don’t allow pets outside when mountain lions are most active—dawn, dusk, and at night.
• Bring pet food inside to avoid attracting raccoons, opossums and other potential mountain lion prey.
• Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
• Do not hike, bike, or jog alone.
• Avoid hiking or jogging when mountain lions are most active—dawn, dusk, and at night.
• Do not approach a mountain lion.
• 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.
• If attacked, fight back.
• If a mountain lion attacks a person, immediately call 911.