HAYWARD, Calif. -- A mountain lion alert is being issued to hundreds of families in the hills east of Hayward after a big cat was spotted twice in the past week. The mountain lion also may have been responsible for killing two goats that belong to an area resident.

Police announced Thursday that there have been two reported sightings of a mountain lion in Hayward since Sunday.

The first sighting occurred at about 6:43 p.m. Sunday when a resident witnessed the mountain lion in the backyard of his home in the 1100 block of Garin Avenue, according to police. California Department of Fish and Game personnel viewed videotape provided by the resident and confirmed that the animal was a mountain lion.

Then, at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, a resident in the 30000 block of Woodthrush Place reported that a mountain lion killed a goat and dragged it away, police said. Officials confirmed that the goat was missing from the property.

The property owner, Raul Huerta, told KTVU through a translator he has 15 goats and that a neighbor saw the mountain lion kill one of them and drag it away.

Huerta's family includes seven children ranging in age from two to 15 years old. Family members said they've lived here for two years and raise goats for food and milk.

They said they've never seen a mountain lion here before. Huerta says the goats normally roam free. He's now keeping them in a pen until fish and game officials can locate the mountain lion.

Fish and Game spokesman Steve Martarano said that a depredation permit is likely to be issued to the homeowner Thursday night, allowing the homeowner to have the mountain lion trapped or killed within 10 days if the mountain lion returns to the property.

"Mountain lions have a large territory they can roam in, so there is always that chance the lion has taken off and won't come back," Martarano said.

The mountain lion has not been declared a public safety hazard, according to Martarano.

Police sent out an automated phone message to more than 1,200 homes and an elementary school in the area to warn locals about the sightings.

The message told residents to be watchful for the animal and not to approach it. Anyone seeing the mountain lion should get indoors and call 911 immediately.

Neighbors had mixed reactions as to whether the mountain lion should be destroyed.

"I would be reluctant to say I'd like to see it destroyed, because it's in its own habitat," said local resident Dashile Miguele.

Others expressed serious concerns for residents, particularly children in the area.

"It could get dangerous as close as they are to the school," explained Cliff Covert.

The game warden says it's likely the two sightings involved the same mountain lion. He cautions people not to run if they see the animal because it will instinctively give chase.