California wildlife authorities are urging residents of a small Central California city to lock up their pets and safe livestock following a collection of mountain lion assaults.
A number of animals have been killed within the Monterey County hamlet of Corral de Tierra, about 12 miles east of Monterey, officers mentioned.
Residents have claimed that household canines, a miniature horse and goats have all been killed over the previous few weeks, native tv station KSBW reported.
“I might hear rustling on our porch,” Corral de Tierra resident Michael Antle advised the tv station. “Our household canine was taken off of our porch. The next evening, the lion got here for our goat and really took the goat to the identical spot. Didn’t eat both animal, so I feel it’s out to kill.”
Antle mentioned the primary assault occurred Dec. 21, round 12:30 a.m.
Different residents even have claimed to see a creature lurking round.
Personnel from the California Division of Fish and Wildlife confirmed Wednesday afternoon that there had been “mountain lion conflicts” in and round Corral de Tierra.
Krysten Kellum, a division spokesperson, mentioned the variety of assaults within the space was unknown — as was the variety of mountain lions concerned.
She did say, nevertheless, that the assaults occurred throughout night and early-morning hours, when the predators are energetic.
She additionally mentioned the animals that have been killed weren’t secured for the evening.
“That’s all we’re asking folks to do: Convey your canines in at evening, evening pen livestock,” she mentioned, referring to corralling the animals right into a securely fenced space.
In response to the assaults, the company is looking on residents to doc all encounters with mountain lions on the Division of Fish and Wildlife website.
“It’s important that folks report these incidents,” Kellum mentioned.
The division additionally advises deer-proofing property to keep away from attracting a mountain lion’s primary meals supply, eradicating dense vegetation to cut back hiding areas, putting in out of doors lighting and securing animal enclosures.
If these steps don’t work, Kellum mentioned different choices may embrace trapping and doubtlessly utilizing nonlethal projectiles, like paint balls, to ward off, haze and deter them.
She mentioned, nevertheless, the scenario in Corral de Tierra hasn’t reached that degree of severity.
“We simply need residents to undergo these processes and never give attention to potential worst-case situations,” she mentioned.
