A mountain lion has been seen recently in the hills above Pacific Palisades. Hikers who go up into the hills above Brentwood are cautioned to remain “on alert.â€
As Bel Air Patrol Sgt. Aaron Sias, Team Manager Palisades Highlands ADT/Bel-Air Patrolhas warned:
While preparing to go off-duty on Sunday night at approximately 2146 hours at our shift change location at 1200 Palisades Drive, Officer Lovo and myself observed a large adult mountain lion, approximately 130-140 lbs., with a 3-3 1/2 foot tail, run down the common area hillside (from the rear yards off of Calle de Sevilla) clear the five foot cinder block wall with ease and trot across all lanes of Palisades Drive, clear a second five foot wall and into the brush just south of the access road to the Santa Yenz Canyon Park. The cat emerged once again on top of the flood basin and walked down the embankment and out of sight into the brush headed West into the flood channel toward the hillside.
As someone who has worked in the Highlands for nearly 10 years now at all times of the day and night, I have never observed this type of activity or actually witnessed a mountain lion first hand. I believe this behavior in such a well lit and noisy area is quite uncommon for this type of cat. I will be notifying the State Park Rangers this afternoon and seeking guidance on who else would be notified. I will put together a bulletin for distribution to the homes around the area where the cat was sighted and post the same information at the entrance to the Santa Yenz Canyon Park.
Please get this information out to as many residents in the area as possible as I know that particular trail is highly traveled by many of our residents, and often times with dogs. I will include safety tips in the bulle tin and try to get it out this evening as well as having the Officers distribute verbal warnings to any hikers or dog walkers entering the area. Feel free to contact me directly if you have any suggestions or want more information.
There are lions in them there Santa Monica Mountains… be aware!
The California Department of Fish and Game has more information on these animals at:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/issues/lion/
