Three popular open space preserves in a 5-mile span on the South Peninsula near San Francisco, CA are on alert after several mountain lion sightings and a preserve closure.
The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has set up a mountain lion hotline at 650-691-2165, the fastest way to report an incident to a ranger, said Leigh Ann Gessner at MidPen’s headquarters, reports the SF Chronicle.
Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve reopened this past week after a female mountain lion and her three yearling cubs were tracked moving outside of areas popular with visitors, according to the Midpeninsula open space district. The park was closed following numerous reports from hikers and bikers of lions in the area. A trail runner also reported sighting a female lion and two cubs at Fremont Older Open Space, about 5 miles south of Rancho San Antonio on the east side of Stevens Creek Reservoir.
5 years ago a lion attacked a 6-year-old boy in Picchetti Ranch Preserve, located west of Stevens Creek Reservoir. The lion dragged the boy into the bushes, but his parents fought off the cat, saving their son. The lion was later found and euthanized.
Mountain lions have also been sighted in San Francisco at Lake Merced and Golden Gate Park, both very popular places for visitors.
