Mountain Lion Seen Attacking Deer In San Mateo Neighborhood
SAN MATEO (CBS SF) -- Residents in a San Mateo neighborhood reported seeing a mountain lion attacking a deer early Tuesday morning, police said.
According to San Mateo police, residents on Fernwood Street heard what sounded to be an animal in distress in the creek bed behind their homes at about 1 a.m. Upon investigation, the residents said they saw the big cat attacking a deer.
"My dog kept barking and I continuously would hear like an odd, like a whooshing noise. I never heard it before," said Tim Weber, a resident near the creek.
Weber said when heard the sounds in the middle of the night; he figured it was a young deer caught in some wire. He then went with his son to check things out and indeed they found that dead deer.
"To see a mountain lion jump off it, I mean, it shocked me." Weber backed away from the animal and said he saw it again mid-day.
Police officers responding to the scene found the deer carcass but did not locate the mountain lion.
Officials from the Peninsula Humane Society and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife were notified of the incident.
Fish and Wildlife officials caution that while it is rare for a mountain lion to approach humans, it is illegal in California to feed deer, as it will attract the big cats.
To avoid a mountain lion encounter, residents should avoid hiking or jogging through wooded areas at dusk, dawn and at night, when mountain lions are most active, and should keep a close watch over children.
Anyone who comes face to face with a mountain lion is advised not to run, and instead face the animal, make a noise and try to look bigger by waving, throwing rocks or other objects at the animal.
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