A trio of apex predators were recently spotted prowling through a property in a popular Central Valley resort town.
The elusive creatures were captured on video by a Shaver Lake home’s Blink surveillance camera, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
Shaver Lake resident Mike Giubbini shared the video, which shows three mountain lions, with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. The agency then posted the video to its Facebook and Instagram accounts.
“They’re absolutely gorgeous!” Facebook user Brooke Elizabeth Collett wrote in a comment on the video, “How lucky to be surrounded by such beauty. I could sit and watch all day. That would be heaven to me.”
Much of California is considered mountain lion country, including the Sierra Nevada, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Although cougars are typically elusive, they’re powerful predators capable of seriously injuring people and pets alike.
Here’s how to avoid mountain lions — and what to do if you see one:
A trio of mountain lions explore Shaver Lake property in this screenshot from a home surveillance camera. Courtesy of Fresno County Sheriff’s Office What does mountain lion video show?
According to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the video was shot along Crystal Creek Lane on Wednesday, March 4.
The full-color footage shows the three mountain lions emerging from the trees at the edge of a driveway or private road.
In the video, the three apex predators carefully prowl across the asphalt, pausing to sniff and listen for sound from nearby forest. Two of the cougars then bound into the snow along the edge of the path, while the third hesitates.
“The Sheriff’s Office encourages you to always be aware of your surroundings,” the agency said in the caption of the video. “And remember, it’s the wildlife’s world too, we’re just sharing it with them.”
Shaver Lake is about a 50-mile drive northeast from Fresno.
Social media users react to cougar video
Social media users reacted to the Shaver Lake mountain lion video with a mixture of awe and apprehension, calling it “incredible,” “awesome” and “so beautiful.”
Some commenters believe the video shows a mountain lion mother and her two cubs, and that she might be teaching them to hunt.
Several Facebook users joked about wanting to pet the wild animals or attraction them with a call of “Here, kitty, kitty, kitty!”
“They’re just looking for cuddles and boops,” Facebook user Dave Johnson wrote..
However, not everyone found the apex predators cute and cuddly.
“Of all the creatures I fear mountain lions the most. … They are stealth hunters,” Facebook user Dolores Pinzon-Caldwell wrote. “You would never hear them coming even though they have been tracking you when you placed your foot on the trail.”
The animals are “beauty and danger all at once,” another Facebook user said.
A mountain lion walking in the wilderness. Stock Photo via Getty Images How to avoid mountain lions
Mountain lions tend to be shy creatures that typically avoid humans, the California Fish and Wildlife Department said, and attacks involving mountain lions are rare.
There are ways to safely live beside the big cats, The San Luis Obispo Tribune previously reported
Mountain lions are most active at night and during dawn and dusk, so it’s a good idea to avoid hiking, biking, jogging or walking alone in open space areas, especially at dawn, dusk, or at night.
Pet owners should keep pets — especially rabbits, cats and small dogs — indoors at night.
If you are outdoors when cougars are likely to be active:
Stay in well-lit areas or on established trailsBe alert and go in a group when walking, hiking, biking or joggingKeep a close eye on small children and petsCreate some noise to make sure any nearby mountain lions are aware of your presence
Residents should secure anything that could be a food source, such as garbage cans, bird feeders, compost bins, and pet food left outside to keep wild animals that mountain lions might prey on away from neighborhoods.
You should also “deer-proof your property to avoid attracting a lion’s main food source,” state wildlife officials said.
It’s also a good idea to remove any dense vegetation around your home or yard where a cougar could hide and install outdoor lighting to make it harder for one to approach without going unnoticed.
Livestock owners should secure any large outdoor pets in sturdy, covered shelters at night.
What to do if you encounter a cougar
If you do spot a mountain lion in your neighborhood or out on a trail, the most important thing is to stay as calm as you possibly can.
Never turn your back on the big cat. Keep eye contact with the creature and slowly back away. Make noise, stand up straight and try to make yourself look as big as possible to scare off the mountain lion.
Other important tips to remember:
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 — such as rocks or belongings — 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.How to report a mountain lion sighting
If you see a mountain lion and feel immediately threatened, you should call 911.
After a cougar sighting, you can report the date and location of the encounter to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
That way, the state agency can track and manage mountain lions’ population in the area, he said.
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This story was originally published March 6, 2026 at 1:16 PM.
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Brooke (they/them) covers Fresno and California news as the Fresno Bee’s service journalism reporter. They previously covered wildlife and national parks out west for the national real-time team at McClatchy News. Originally from Florida, they studied journalism at the University of Florida and previously covered LGBTQ+ news for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, their hometown newspaper. When they’re not writing stories, they enjoy hanging out with their cats, riding horses or spending time outdoors.