Elusive predator casually strolls near homes in California neighborhood. See it
An elusive apex predator was recorded casually strolling among homes at dusk in a California neighborhood, police said.
Two days later, there was another sighting in an industrial area and then in the town of Watsonville, police said in a May 22 post on Facebook.
There’s no way to know whether it might have been the same creature in both sightings.
Video shows the mountain lion slinking along a deserted sidewalk into what appears to be the courtyard of a development, passing only feet away from a home’s entrance.
“A mountain lion has been caught on camera strolling through a residential neighborhood in Watsonville,” the agency said in the post. “Based on the footage provided to us today by the Pajaro Valley Historical Association, the mountain lion made its way onto their grounds … at about 8:23PM May 16 and left the area at 2:47AM May 17.”
A later video shows the mountain lion prowling near what looks like an open gate at the development’s fence. Its eyes glow bright in the darkness.
“A separate sighting was reported on May 19 at about 9:30PM along the 1400 block of W. Beach Street, where the puma was seen walking towards the area of Big Creek Lumber,” the department said. “We believe it made its way from the Pajaro River levee area into town.”
The department did not share video of the second sighting, but showed the areas where it was seen on a map.
Officials asked residents who live nearby to “bring pets indoors, especially at night; keep a close eye on young children when outside” and steer clear of any mountain lion. If you spot one, police said you should call 911.
For those who encounter a mountain lion, the department advised against running away or staring into its eyes. Instead, people should spread their arms wide to appear bigger to the predator and make loud noises.
Several people commented on the sighting, some with jokes, others with anecdotes about past sightings on home surveillance cameras.
“I hope it survives,” someone said. “How scary to be wandering around an environment like a city.”
This story was originally published May 23, 2025 at 2:14 PM with the headline "Elusive predator casually strolls near homes in California neighborhood. See it."
