Mountain lion spotted in San Mateo neighborhood

SAN MATEO, Calif. (KTVU) - Residents in a San Mateo neighborhood are keeping their eyes peeled for a mountain lion that was spotted Sunday night on a sidewalk. It's the third sighting of a big cat along the Peninsula in the past few days.

One of the neighbors took a photo of what police say is either a juvenile mountain lion or possibly a bobcat. It was slinking along the sidewalk Sunday at 8 p.m. near West 20th and La Salle Drive off Alameda de las Pulgas.

Residents were told to shelter in place while police looked for the big cat. They searched for an hour, but were unable to locate it.

This is the third mountain lion sighting in San Mateo County in the last several days. One was spotted last Thursday in a neighborhood near Los Trancos Woods in Portola Valley. A deputy spotted a big cat again last night at 9:30 p.m. in the same area.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife has been contacted. They'll be checking the area periodically.
Authorities say if you encounter a mountain lion, don't run.

Instead face the animal, make noise, try to look bigger and throw rocks. Residents should also avoid feeding deer - which can attract mountain lions. Pets should also be kept inside when mountain lions are most active - at dusk, night and dawn.