Lassen County Sheriff John McGarva issued a statement May 13 that mountain lions are an “imminent threat” to Lassen County. From reports of one mountain lion haunting the deck of a private home to another walking toward a man with his dogs in broad daylight, the Lassen sheriff’s office declared that sightings have become more frequent. The declaration blew up online, with outlets across California picking up the story and blazing across social media.
What do others in the community make of this alleged threat? And what, then, of Plumas County next door?
Plumas Sheriff Chad Hermann agreed that mountain lions are now a more pronounced threat in Plumas County. He shared a report from several months ago of a half dozen children playing outside in Graeagle. A mountain lion sat between two houses, watching the little ones frolic in broad daylight.
“When we’re having mountain lions in residential areas in the daytime, it’s becoming more and more problematic,” said Hermann.
Mountain lion-related calls can burden a small, understaffed force like his, he said, but officers respond because the California Department of Fish and Wildfish will not necessarily send someone to check.
Peter Tira, information officer at CDFW, said that while the agency responds to all mountain lion reports, not all of them require in-person action because of modern digital technology. Cameras are especially helpful; they can provide photo and video evidence, he said. Tira added that another important change in the past decade is training in human-wildlife conflict, developing staff who specialize in these issues.
“When we’re having mountain lions in residential areas in the daytime, it’s becoming more and more problematic.”
Chad Hermann, Plumas County sheriff
“We also care deeply about the health and welfare of our rural communities,” said Tira. “That’s where many CDFW employees live and raise their families as well.”
According to Tira, there were 425 mountain lion depredation incident reports made statewide in 2025. Depredation refers to a mountain lion killing or injuring livestock or pets. Thirteen of those came from Plumas County. So far in 2026, the department has logged 257 reports statewide, with 10 in Plumas County. This is an uptick from the past five years. Tira noted that the reports are just that and not necessarily confirmed; it is also possible for an incident to get reported twice if, for example, a neighbor reports the same attack.
Despite these numbers, Stephen Gonzalez, another CDFW spokesperson, denied any danger to public safety in Plumas.
“There have been no confirmed depredations of pets or livestock this year, no confrontations with people and no incidents warranting intervention,” said Gonzalez. Plumas County supports a large resident deer population, which serves as a primary natural food source for mountain lions, he added.
Despite the mountainous terrain and abundant deer population, the county is not a location with an imminent mountain lion threat to public safety, Gonzalez said.
Byron Weckworth, chief conservation officer of the Mountain Lion Foundation, told The Plumas Sun, “One of the biggest myths is that seeing a mountain lion automatically means there is an imminent threat to public safety.”
“Mountain lions are powerful predators and people should take sightings seriously,” Weckworth said. But fear and speculation should not replace facts, he added. “Attacks on humans remain extremely rare in California,” he said. Most mountain lions avoid people whenever possible, said Weckworth.
It is precisely because the North State has some of California’s best mountain lion habitat that people in the area are more likely to encounter the predators, he said. For that reason, it is important to act based on facts, not out of fear.
Lori Simpson, a former Plumas County supervisor who has lived in Quincy for 50 years, said she saw a mountain lion in her front yard this spring. She was taking her senior dog, Sonny, out around midnight when she noticed the predator under the rear of her Mazda Sedan. When the mountain lion saw her, it darted across Main Street. A month prior to this encounter, she had suspected a mountain lion was nearby. She noticed dark scat around her home and had even seen a flash of an animal running away — an animal she knew was not one of the habitual deer in the neighborhood.
“There’s always been mountain lions in the Quincy area,” said Simpson. “We’re close to the woods and they come down. People sometimes see them in their Ring [camera]. Most people in Quincy wouldn’t think of them as a threat — well, maybe some would. I can’t speak for everybody.”
Killing a mountain lion in California is illegal in most circumstances. Under California Fish & Game Code 4800, it has been illegal to hunt mountain lions since 1990. Doing so is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for up to a year. It can also involve a fine of up to $10,000. The exception lies in immediate self-defense or defending others from a mountain lion attack.
“California voters protected mountain lions because they are a native apex predator with important ecological value,” said Weckworth. He explained that the animals reproduce slowly and need large territories to thrive. “The law still allows intervention in specific public safety or depredation situations, but California’s overall approach prioritizes conservation and nonlethal management whenever possible.”
Reducing risks of encountering a mountain lion
CDFW shared the following tips for reducing interactions with mountain lions:
Do not hike, bike or jog alone and avoid these activities at dawn, dusk or nighttime
Deer-proof property. Fewer deer means less reason for mountain lions to enter
To reduce hiding areas for mountain lions around homes, get rid of thick vegetation
Put in outdoor lighting so that mountain lions are less likely to approach your home unseen.
At night, keep livestock and outdoor pets in durable, covered shelters.
If you do see a mountain lion, you can submit a wildlife incident report to CDFW here: https://apps.wildlife.ca.gov/wir