The city of Redlands is warning hikers after two residents reported sighting of a mountain lion in San Timoteo Canyon last week.

In an e-mail to the city, the resident reported spotting the mountain lion last week while she and a friend were hiking in the canyon.

There have been several confirmed mountain lion sightings in Redlands since May 2001. In November of last year, state Department of Fish and Game officers captured a young female mountain lion in a back yard near Crafton Elementary School.

Of the hundreds of mountain lion sightings reported statewide annually, fewer than 3 percent are considered safety threats. According to the Department of Fish and Game, mountain lion attacks on humans are rare. There have been only 15 verified mountain lion attacks on humans in California since 1890, six of them fatal. The last documented attack occurred in June, 2004 in Tulare County.

While there have been several sightings in Redlands over the past five years, there have been no reports of mountain lion attacks on humans in San Bernardino County.

The Department of Fish and Game has issued the following guidelines for anyone living in mountain lion habitat:

v Don’t feed wildlife: By feeding deer, raccoons or other wildlife in your yard, you will inadvertently attract mountain lions, which prey upon them.

v Deer-proof your landscape: Avoid using plants that deer prefer to eat; if your landscaping attracts deer, mountain lions may be close by.

v Landscape for safety: Remove dense and/or low-lying vegetation that would provide good hiding places for mountain lions, especially around children’s play areas; make it difficult for mountain lions to approach your yard unseen.

v Install outdoor lighting: Keep the perimeter of your house well lit at night – especially along walkways – to keep any approaching mountain lions visible.

v Keep pets secure: Roaming pets are easy prey for hungry mountain lions. Either bring pets inside or keep them in a kennel with a secure top. Don’t feed pets outside; this can attract raccoons and other mountain lion prey.

v Keep livestock secure: Where practical, place livestock in enclosed sheds and barns at night, and be sure to secure all outbuildings.

v Keep children safe: Keep a close watch on children whenever they play outdoors. Make sure children are inside before dusk and not outside before dawn. Talk with children about mountain lions and teach them what to do if they encounter one.

v Do not hike alone: Go in groups, with adults supervising children

If you encounter a mountain lion:

v Keep children close to you: Observations of captured wild mountain lions reveal that the animals seem especially drawn to children. Keep children within your sight at all times.

v Do not approach a lion: Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.

v Do not run from a lion: Running may stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase. Instead stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up if possible so they don’t panic and run. Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.

v Do not crouch or bend over: If you’re in mountain lion country, avoid squatting, crouching or bending over, even when picking up children

v Do all you can to appear larger: Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Throw stones, branches or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. The idea is to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may be a danger to it.

v Fight back if attacked

More information is available at the Department of Fish and Game’s website at www.dfg.ca.gov or by calling (909) 484-0167.

Not for public release: Members of the press can get further information by calling the Department of Fish and Game public information Office at (916) 654-5866 or (916) 654-2096.

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