An adult mountain lion has been spotted in Palm Springs and wildlife officials are monitoring the situation.
The Palm Springs Police Department received a report of a mountain lion between 6 and 6:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 9, near the 500 block of Vista Chino.
The animal was briefly photographed, which was shared with police. However, the reporting party soon lost sight of the creature.
“As a precaution, residents are reminded that wildlife does frequent our desert community,” PSPD said on social media. “We encourage everyone to remain aware of their surroundings when outdoors.”
Police encouraged residents with pets to keep them supervised while outdoors.
Animal Control officers have responded to the incident.
Mountain lions have been known to kill pets, especially in rural areas, although fatal attacks on humans are rare. The most recent death by a mountain lion in America occurred on New Years Day in Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, Colorado. That was the first such death recorded in Colorado in 30 years.
The last fatal mountain lion attack in California occurred in 2024 in El Dorado County.
Residents who see a mountain lion are encouraged to report it to the Wildlife Incident Reporting System at wildlife.ca.gov to allow officials to track activity. PSPD can also be reached at 760-327-1441.
Sam Morgen covers the city of Palm Springs for The Desert Sun. Reach him at smorgen@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Mountain lion spotted in Palm Springs as authorities urge caution
Reporting by Sam Morgen, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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