mountain lion

TWO MOUNTAIN LIONS KILLED BY VEHICLES IN CREST AND OCEANSIDE

By Miriam Raftery

 

Photo:  Oceanside mountain lion, via city surveillance video

March 13, 2024 (San Diego) -- Two mountain lions have been struck and killed by vehicles on local roadways so far this month.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

VIDEO OF THE MONTH: MOUNTAIN LION IN DESCANSO

 

 

March 14, 2022 (Descanso, CA) -- Ana Lilia sent in this video of a mountain lion spotted in the backyard of her home in Descanso, a rural community in San Diego's backcountry.  “I love how the last shot of him/her is just as he passed by our statue of St. Francis of Assisi -- the patron Saint of Ecology & Animals," she says.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

MOUNTAIN LION REHABBED IN RAMONA RETURNS TO WILD IN ORANGE COUNTY

Orphaned cub and sibling came to San Diego Humane Society after mom was hit by a car
 
East County News Service
 
Photo courtesy San Diego Humane Society
 
June 23, 2021 (Ramona) -- One of the mountain lions who spent 4 months at San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center under the care of the organization’s Project Wildlife team, was released back into the wild late Monday, June 21. The 6-month-old cub and her sister came to San Diego Humane Society after their mother had been hit by a car, leaving them orphaned near the Tijeras Creek Golf Course in Orange County. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) determined the cubs could not fend for themselves in Rancho Santa Margarita and requested assistance from SDHS. The first cub arrived at the Ramona Wildlife Center on Feb. 11, 2021 and the second was transferred from Serrano Animal and Bird Hospital after surgery on May 1, 2021.

Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

GOAT DEATHS RAISE CONCERNS IN LAKESIDE: WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST SAYS COYOTES, NOT MOUNTAIN LION ARE MOST LIKELY TO BLAME

By Miriam Raftery

July 9, 2019 (Lakeside) – CBS 8 reports that numerous goats have been killed in the past month in Lakeside's Morena Valley and Eucalyptus Hills communities. The CBS story quoted Billy Ortiz, a wildlife photographer, who said he identified tracks of a female mountain lion and a cub near the most recent kill.

But wildlife biologist Renee Owens says, "By the nature of the kills they were most if not all coyotes and possibly dogs.  Yes, there is a mountain lion in the area, as has always been the case–as in all areas of our backcountry, but the track Billy has posted is not definitive of a lion."  Her nonprofit organization, Wildlife Zone, is working on a mountain lion study.  She has been featured on National Geographic, the BBC, Discovery Channel and Dateline for her wildlife expertise.

 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

PEÑASQUITOS PRESERVE REOPENS AFTER DNA TEST PROVES LION KILLED IS SAME ONE THAT ATTACKED BOY

By Miriam Raftery


June 1, 2019 (Rancho Peñasquitos) – The Rancho Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve has reopened to the public after DNA testing proved that a mountain lion killed by state wildlife officers is the same one that attacked a 4-year-old boy.

Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

WILDLIFE OFFICERS KILL MOUNTAIN LION SUSPECTED OF ATTACKING BOY IN PEÑASQUITOS PRESERVE

 
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
Photo: Mountain lion tracks, CC by SA-NC
 
May 28, 2019 (Rancho Peñasquitos) – After yesterday’s attack on a 4-year-old boy at the Rancho Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve run by the city of San Diego, wildlife officers investigating at the scene spotted mountain lion tracks and were approached by a lion that appeared to have little fear of humans. This is abnormal behavior for normally reclusive mountain lions, so the officers shot and killed the lion to protect public safety, according to the California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife.
 
It is not yet confirmed that this is the same lion that attacked the child, who suffered non-life threatening head injuries. DNA samples from the boy have been shipped to a CDFW Wildlife Forensic Laboratory in Sacramento along with the lion carcass for a necropsy and DNA analysis to confirm whether this was the animal responsible for the attack. The lion will also be tested for rabies.
 
Kirsten MacIntyire at CDFW confirms the lion was a female but that there were no signs of cubs.

Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

CHILD ATTACKED BY MOUNTAIN LION ON TRAIL AT PEÑASQUITOS PRESERVE

 
 
By Miriam Raftery

 
Photos: Waterfall in Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, City of San Diego, Mountain lion, California Fish & Game Department



May 27, 2019 (Los Peñasquitos) – A young child has been transported to a hospital with head injuries after being attacked by a mountain lion, or possibly a bobcat, according to the San Diego Fire & Rescue Department.
 
The attack occurred aound 2:30 p.m. today at the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, just east of the waterfall on a popular hiking trail
 
Witnesses told 10 News that the boy’s father threw rocks to scare off the big cat.

Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

MOUNTAIN LIONS SPOTTED ON MT. HELIX

 

By Miriam Raftery

July 8, 2016 (Mt. Helix) – Two mountain lions have been reported Monday by a homeowner on Mt. Helix.  La Mesa Today sent an alert warning the lions were seen  off Lemon Avenue in the Lake Helix area.  A CBS 8 news story ran two photos taken by the homeowner in unincorporated  La Mesa and footage of the location outside the home. 

The homeowner, who asked to stay anonymous, said the lions were on a hillside above a pool where her children were playing and two large dogs were present.

A long-time La Mesa resident  posted on a residents’ online forum that through the years he has previously seen mountain lions in the Boulder Hills area of La Mesa near Chevy Chase, above the La Mesa Village. 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

MOUNTAIN LION AT MISSION TRAILS SURPRISES HIKER

By Miriam Raftery

file photo: Calif. Dept. Fish & Game

July 13, 2015 (San Diego) – A mountain lion apparently protecting her cubs startled a pair of hikers Thursday night at Mission Trails Regional Park.

Mike Smith told ECM news partner 10 News that he was wearing a head lamp on the trail when he spotted a reflection and then heard a sound like “kittens, kind of like a meowing, but loud.”

He and his friend walked toward their car, when they saw eyes  staring at them. Next, a full-grown mountain lion walked out of the bushes and across the road less than 30 feet from the hikers, before heading up to high ground.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

MOUNTAIN LION "SCREAMS"

 

April 3, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – A female mountain lion’s call has often been described as sounding like a woman’s scream.  Here is a call caught on a trailcam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM2Sw8dsMDQ


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

MOUNTAIN LION REPORTEDLY RELOCATED AFTER ATTACKS ON LIVESTOCK IN JAPATUL/CARVEACRE; SECOND LION SEEN IN AREA

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

June 1, 2013 (Japatul) – Following a series of attacks on livestock in the Japatul/Carveacre area east of Alpine,  a mountain lion has been captured and relocated by state Fish and Game authorities, according to Lori Briggs.

 However, she indicated that a Fish and Game official advised that “there is a another lion very close.”  Although lions are elusive and rarely seen, residents should be aware and take precautions to protect children and domestic animals in the area.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

MOUNTAIN LION SIGHTING IN ALPINE

 

June 9, 2011 (Alpine) - Alpine Community Network reports that an Alpine resident has informed ACN of a mountain lion siting in broad daylight.  According to ACN director Angela Brookshire, ""I received an email this morning from an Alpine Resident who told me that on their way to work at Sycuan Casino at approximately 6:50 a.m. they spotted a Mountain Lion at the corner of Tavern Rd. and Dehesa Rd. in Alpine."


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.