A mountain lion was spotted in Rohnert Park Wednesday morning, March 11, police said.
The sighting occurred in Rohnert Park’s G Section, which is bordered by Holly Avenue and Snyder Lane in the northeast region of the city.
Police say there is no threat to the public, but advise people to be aware of their surroundings.
Mountain lions are native to California and are typically active at dusk and dawn, according to Sonoma County Regional Parks.
Sonoma County is home to about 75 mountain lions and they tend to avoid human interaction and prefer areas with vegetation that offer cover.
Since June 1890, there have been 29 verified mountain lion attacks on 30 humans in California, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. The attacks nearest to Sonoma County occurred in Mendocino County in August 1994 and Half Moon Bay in February 2023.
According to the state agency, tips for reducing mountain lion confrontations include:
No hiking, biking or jogging alone at dawn, dusk or at night
Deer proofing property to avoid attracting a lion’s main food source
Removing dense vegetation that may offer mountain lion cover
Installing outdoor lighting to make it harder for mountain lions to approach unseen
Securing livestock and outdoor pets in sturdy shelters at night
Here are tips for when and if you encounter a mountain lion:
Stay alert on trails
Keep pets leashed and small children beside you to keep them from running ahead
Do not approach mountain lions and allow them to have escape routes
Stay calm, do not run and don’t turn your back
Face the animal and make a loud noise. Do not crouch down; try to look bigger. If with small children, put them on shoulders
You can reach Staff Writer Colin Atagi at colin.atagi@pressdemocrat.com.