On Tuesday, May 23, at approximately 8:30 AM, a resident was walking along the River Park Trail and spotted a mountain lion as it was crossing the path ahead of them and heading east toward the river (refer to attached photo). The police department responded in the UTV to search for the animal and notify people in the area. North Bay Animal Services was contacted, and they are responding to investigate the sighting.
The City of Cloverdale is dedicated to ensuring the community's safety and encourages residents to use caution when walking along the trail. If you encounter a mountain lion, do not approach it, and please follow these basic steps. Make yourself appear as large as possible. Pick up your children, leash pets, and stand close to other adults. Open your jacket, and raise your arms. Wave your raised arms slowly. Make noise. Yell, shout, bang your walking stick against a tree. Make any loud sound that cannot be confused by the lion as the sound of prey. Speak slowly, firmly, and loudly to disrupt and discourage predatory behavior. Act like a predator yourself. Maintain eye contact. Never run past or from a mountain lion. Never bend over or crouch down. Aggressively wave your raised arms, and throw stones or branches, all without turning away. Slowly create distance.
Assess the situation. Consider whether you may be between the lion and its kittens or between the lion and its prey or cache. Back slowly to a spot that gives the mountain lion a path to get away, never turning away from the animal. Give mountain lions the time and ability to move out of the area.
Protect yourself.
For more information, visit the Mountain Lion Foundation.
