A Saratoga family had two unexpected visitors in their backyard this week: a large mountain lion and her juvenile cub.
The sighting happened early Sunday morning via a surveillance camera at a home less than two miles from downtown Saratoga.
Kaetlyn Doss said she sent the video footage to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), which confirmed the big cats were a mother and juvenile cub.
Doss said the same pair also visited her property last month.
A CDFW spokesperson said it’s not unusual for mountain lions to come down into the valley, especially at dusk and dawn.
CDFW experts said mountain lions typically try to avoid people. But if you do encounter a big cat, make loud noises, try to look bigger, and slowly back away. Do not run.