A pair of mountain lions have been spotted in a Napa County neighborhood.
Surveillance video footage showed the two mountain lions roaming the Gordon Valley neighborhood. It was the second sighting of the big cats in the neighborhood in recent weeks, according to Sergio Rogoff of Napa County.
“It walked right by,” Rogoff said. “We could see it disappear right here, went right to our house. Where it went, we don’t know. We’ve seen them on video, so we know they’re around.”
It was the most recent in a string of cougar sightings in the Bay Area. A few weeks ago, there were five separate sightings of the big cats in San Jose.
According to Krysten Kellum, spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Bay Area is a prime location for mountain lions.
Kellum added that increased sightings can be attributed to more surveillance cameras.
“The mountain lions have always been here. The Bay Area is surrounded by suitable mountain lion habitat,” Kellum said.
The increased sightings have left Sharon Diaz, a resident of Napa County, frightened.
“It’s scary because you don’t know what they’re going after or how close they are to your house,” she said. “It’s scary with the kids out, and we have animals. It’s just scary to think that they’re this close.”
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Diaz has advised both her grandchildren to keep a close eye and not to run in the event they see one.
Fish and Wildlife officials say if someone spots a mountain lion they should not run, find a way to make themselves look big and maintain eye contact.
