Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011 • Mountain lions seen in city limits: Citizens should be on the lookout

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, Sept, 20, 2011, edition of the Lassen County Times.

Mountain lions have been seen within the city of Susanville with the most recent citing of two cubs on Thursday, Sept. 15 in the area of Chestnut and Ash streets.

The cubs have been seen on several occasions over the past few weeks. The Susanville Police Department has received several calls and it has been in contact with the California Department of Fish and Game and it is aware of the situation, Captain Tom Downing said in a press release Friday, Sept. 16.

Mountain lions are a protected species in California making it illegal to kill one unless it is a public safety threat. According to the California Department of Fish and Game, the mountain lion sightings within Susanville do not constitute a public safety threat at this time.

Downing said the SPD is monitoring the situation closely.

Do not attempt to feed mountain lions or cubs. If you see a mountain lion in the city of Susanville call the 24-hour dispatch center to report the sighting.

More than half of California is mountain lion habitat.

Mountain lions generally exist wherever deer are found.

They are solitary and elusive animals, and their nature is to avoid humans. Mountain lions prefer deer but, if allowed, they also eat pets and livestock. Rarely will mountain lions prey on dead animals they did not kill or will they rummage through trash.

To learn more about mountain lions and how to live with them in Lassen County, go to dfg.ca.gov/news/issues/lion.