Fourth Mountain Lion Sighting at UCSB
(stock image)
By edhat staff
A mountain lion was spotted for the fourth time near UC Santa Barbara Monday evening.
UCSB officials sent out an alert to students, residents, and faculty stating the animal was seen around 7:45 p.m. Specifically below Campus Point on the beach.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife were contacted and everyone has been asked to avoid the area.
This is the fourth sighting of a mountain lion near the campus. The first three sightings took place around September 19 and ranged from Campus Point to the Devereux Lagoon.
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September 19, 2019: Three Mountain Lion Sightings Near UCSB
28 Comments
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Oct 08, 2019 12:11 PMA mountain lion roaming the beach. That would be a frightening encounter.
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Oct 08, 2019 02:53 PMEspecially if you were walking a little "prey" dog!
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Oct 08, 2019 03:07 PMLittle "prey" dog? More like "bait," or "chum."
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Oct 09, 2019 07:43 AMIf the "little prey dog" was roaming the beach not on a leash, "prey" is accurate. I'd have compassion for the animal, but the owner is to blame, not the carnivore.
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Oct 08, 2019 12:16 PMYoung adolescent male lion setting up its new territory.
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Oct 08, 2019 04:35 PMThat thing is ripped!
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Oct 08, 2019 04:45 PMand yes, I know that's not an actual picture of the lion.
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Oct 08, 2019 05:45 PMHas anyone tried to rub its belly? :)
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Oct 08, 2019 09:48 PMNot and lived to tell about it.
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Oct 08, 2019 09:14 PMI didn't think they liked water.. If you see one, just run into the ocean, but watch out for sharks!
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Oct 08, 2019 09:49 PMYeah. But first be sure your cellphone isn't in your pants pocket.
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Oct 08, 2019 10:00 PMWe know that mountain lions/cougars are not fish hunters, but they follow prey, so what prey would they look for and where? Autumn is the time when Santa Barbara is at its driest, and if you were a cougar, you'd look for prey who go to the best source of fresh water. Right now that would be close to where drinkable water coursing down from mountain water sources are close to the place where sea water and fresh water meet. Hello to the UCSB Lagoon and springs, where deer and other prey animals would go for sweet water!
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Oct 08, 2019 10:17 PMA desperate female (around 90 pounds), trying to support two cubs, will take on adult human males: https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/20/us/washington-cougar-attack-leaves-mountain-biker-dead/index.html
Most of these attacks occur in the spring, when cubs are young, but these cats are not to be dismissed. If you hike in a canyon here, a cougar *has* been watching you, even if you're not aware of it.
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Oct 09, 2019 08:33 AMLA Times has article today where two cougars were found dead due to ingesting dead animals with rat poison. Hope this guy is staying away from the poisons!
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Oct 09, 2019 10:56 AMWe REALLY need to ban rodentcides! People just need to stop using them! How many animals must die a slow and agonizing death because of this?
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Oct 09, 2019 12:20 PMA close friend just lost her dog to poison up at Figueroa Mountain, someone has been putting out poison for the coyotes and while hiking up there her dog got it. This is not the county or state, these are individuals living up there putting it out there because they have live stock ( chickens , sheep , Ect.. ) :(
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Oct 09, 2019 02:24 PMSagepup, putting out poison in the backcountry should not be legal for any reason. Why even live out there if you just want to kill everything that is not domesticated? We are such a selfish species.
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Oct 09, 2019 08:52 AMA reliable staff person at UCSB reported that Monday evenings sighting was of a BOBCAT,
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Oct 09, 2019 09:09 AMI guess cougars don't like water for swimming. However, tigers do. Years ago I saw a tiger swimming here in Carpinteria, he had a man with him. They were filming a Disney movie.
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Oct 09, 2019 09:34 AMhttps://www.keyt.com/news/santa-barbara-s-county/bobcat-not-mountain-lion-spotted-at-ucsb-campus/1130268123?minutetv=true
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Oct 09, 2019 12:15 PMThat keyt report says Tuesday's report was actually a bobcat but the one on Monday was credible. And there were three last month.
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Oct 09, 2019 10:58 AMNo need to panic. People, check out MountainLion.org for fascinating facts about these beauties! We are lucky to have them. What I wouldn't give to have seen this lion, (If it is, in fact, a lion and not a big bobcat sighting). They are beautiful. America's Lion.
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Oct 09, 2019 12:32 PMA beautiful animal.
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Oct 09, 2019 12:51 PMIn 2007 I saw a mountain lion crawl up the side of what looked like a cliff on Old San Marcos Road right in front of me. It was HUGE. I slammed on my brakes. It looked at me (in my car!) and sauntered up the road without a care in the world. I was in a complete panic trying to lock the doors of my car. It was only afterwards that I realized how insane that was. Fear made me completely illogical. That mountain lion was not going to open my car doors! LOL!
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Oct 09, 2019 03:09 PMlets get practicle, here's the advice if you encounter:
Seem as large as possible.
Make yourself appear larger by picking up children, leashing pets in, and standing close to other people. Open your jacket. Raise your arms. Wave your raised arms slowly.
Make noise.
Yell, shout, bang your walking stick or water bottle. Make any loud sound that cannot be confused by the lion as the sound of prey. Speak slowly and loudly to disrupt and discourage the lion's hunting instincts.
Act defiant, not afraid.
Maintain eye contact. Never run past or away from a mountain lion. Don't bend over or crouch down. Aggressively wave your arms, throw stones or branches, do not turn away.
Slowly create distance.
Assess the situation. Consider whether you may be between the lion and its kittens, prey or cache. Back away slowly to give the mountain lion a path to retreat, never turning your back. Give the lion the time and ability to get away.
Protect yourself.
If attacked, fight back. Protect your neck and throat. People have used rocks, jackets, garden tools, tree branches, walking sticks, fanny packs and even bare hands to turn away mountain lions.
AS OPPOSED TO BEARS: Never look them in the eye nor confront them, talk softly and slowly walk away letting it know you are not a threat. DON'T MIX UP THIS ADVICE!!!!
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Oct 09, 2019 03:31 PMGood advice. Also be careful around ledges or cliffs, as they might be high above you so always listen and scan everything in your path, behind you, the sides, tree limbs above you etc.
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Oct 09, 2019 03:33 PMBTW, I saw a bobcat completely clear Jalama road once, so go figure how far a mountain lion could leap.
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Oct 14, 2019 08:31 AMWhat a BEAUTIFUL Cat! Meow.