The San Mateo County Sheriff's office is investigating a mountain lion sighting in Portola Valley Friday night.
Residents at 550 Cresta Vista Lane reported seeing a mountain lion in their backyard at about 11:15 p.m. Friday. They reported it to the sheriff's office Saturday morning just after 8 a.m.
The sighting comes nearly one week after a 6-year-old boy was attacked by a mountain lion on a hiking trail in Cupertino. After an intense search, that animal was located and killed.
On Thursday night, there was another mountain lion sighting near San Carlos. And last month, another mountain lion was spotted in the Portola Valley area.
A spokeswoman for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department, Rebecca Rosenblatt, said the sheriff's office does respond to a number of mountain lion sightings throughout the year. It responds and tries to locate them and let neighbors know about them.
"I wouldn’t say it’s cause for concern," she said. "I would say we just always report these so people are aware there are sightings, and we can advise people good safety behavior. If you have a small child, don’t pick them up. If you see a mountain lion, don’t run away. Make noise."
Neighbors on Saturday said they were more aware since the boy was attacked last week, but they were not alarmed.
"It’s very residential area," neighbor Emere Tuncbilek said. "It’s a beautiful area, just kind of reminds me we share the same environment. We have to be careful."
Residents in the area are urged not to approach any mountain lion if they see one, especially one that is feeding or with offspring. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation, officers said.
Here are a few tips outlined by the sheriff's office to avoid an encounter with a mountain lion:
- Avoid hiking or jogging when mountain lions are most active--dawn, dusk, and at night.
- Keep a close watch on small children.
- Do not run if you encounter a mountain lion. Instead, face the animal, make noise, and try to look bigger by waving your arms. Throw rocks or other objects.
- Pick up small children.
