Mountain lion reported near Davis bike path. Police urge residents to use caution

Davis police warned residents Wednesday evening after a mountain lion was reportedly spotted recently near Kestrel Place and a nearby bike path in northeast Davis.

The Davis Police Department said in a statement that the sighting was reported to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and officers were monitoring the area. They did not say when the encounter occurred, but no injuries were reported.

“Mountain lions are generally elusive and avoid human contact, but community members should remain alert and follow safety precautions.”

Residents were urged to use caution when walking, biking or recreating nearby, particularly during the early morning and evening hours when mountain lions are most active.

Anyone who sees a mountain lion should call 911, police said.

Mountain lion sightings in urban and suburban areas are uncommon but not unheard of in the Sacramento region. Wildlife experts have said young male cougars sometimes travel long distances while searching for territory, occasionally passing through developed neighborhoods.

“The more that humans move out into their territory, the more sightings and encounters we’re going to have,” Debra Chase, CEO of the Sacramento-based Mountain Lion Foundation, told The Sacramento Bee in a 2021 interview.

What to know about mountain lions

Mountain lions are solitary, elusive animals, according to the National Park Service. The chances of seeing a mountain lion are slim, but people can encounter them.

“Typically, mountain lion sightings occur from a distance and usually around dawn or dusk,” park rangers said. “However, lions are unpredictable and can be dangerous.”

If you see a mountain lion, experts advise you:

• Stay calm and back away slowly.
• Face the lion and stand up straight.
• Don’t approach a mountain lion, especially if it’s with kittens.
• Don’t run. It could stimulate a mountain lion’s chase instincts.
• Pick up small children so they don’t panic or run away.
• Don’t bend over or crouch down.
• Throw things at the mountain lion if it continues to move toward you.
• If the mountain lion attacks, fight back using anything around you.
• Report all sightings, encounters or attacks to local park rangers or law enforcement.