Police: Mountain Lion Spotted By Southwest Modesto Residents
MODESTO (CBS13) – Authorities are asking residents to be on the lookout after two possible mountain lion sightings in southwest Modesto.
The sightings were reported at 11 p.m. Tuesday and 4:15 a.m. Wednesday, according to the Modesto Police Department. In the first sighting, a citizen called police after he saw what he believed was a mountain lion running near Crows Landing Road and Whitmore Avenue.
The second sighting was reported near Morgan Road and Rockefeller Drive.
Police say that officers thoroughly searched both areas immediately after the reported sightings but no big cat was found.
As noted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, mountain lion sightings have been increasing. Officials speculate that drought conditions and lack of food in the foothills could be causing the big cats to move downhill and into more populated areas.