Mountain lion sightings seem to have increased this year. What to know
Three mountain lions were caught on video prowling a Shaver Lake property in Central California, and a separate mountain lion was captured near a college campus in Merced.
The sightings are reminders that much of California is considered mountain lion country, though attacks on humans remain rare.
Here are key takeaways:
• Shaver Lake sighting: A Blink surveillance camera captured three mountain lions crossing a property along Crystal Creek Lane on March 4, about 50 miles northeast of Fresno. Resident Mike Giubbini shared the footage with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
• Merced College incident: A mountain lion spotted near Merced College prompted a safety alert. A resident later found the animal in a tree, and it was tranquilized and relocated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
• Attacks are rare: “Even so, the potential for being killed or injured by a mountain lion is quite low compared to many other natural hazards,” the National Park Service said. “There is a far greater risk, for example, of being killed in an automobile accident with a deer than of being attacked by a mountain lion.”
• If you see one: Never turn your back on a mountain lion. Keep eye contact, slowly back away and try to make yourself look as big as possible. Call 911 if you feel immediately threatened.
• Protect your property: Secure garbage cans, bird feeders and pet food to avoid attracting prey animals. Keep pets indoors at night and remove dense vegetation where a cougar could hide.
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence based on our own originally reported, written and published content.
This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 7:57 AM with the headline "Mountain lion sightings seem to have increased this year. What to know."
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