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Mountain Lion Warning Signs Go Up In Burton Valley

A woman walking behind Burton Valley Elementary Wednesday said she spotted a small mountain lion in the area. Precautions underway.

 

Lafayette Parks and Recreation workers tacked up advisory signage warning of possible mountain lion activity after a woman walking in the hills behind Burton Valley Elementary School  said she saw a small cat Wednesday.

Police and Animal Control officers were summoned to the area and schoolkids were ushered indoors as a precaution around 9:50 a.m. after the walker told school officials she had spotted a small cat of approximately 50 to 75 pounds walking in the area.

Responding officers talked with one man in the area at the time who said his dog was running off-leash in the area and may have been mistaken for a cat, but the advisory signage went up anyway.

An East Bay Regional Park District helicopter was also called in to help with the search, circling over Burton Valley and heavily treed areas near Saint Mary's College, but it was not known if they were able to spot the cat.

Lamorinda Mom August 29, 2012 at 03:38 pm
According to fish and game, there have been 14 verified mt. Lion attacks on people in CA since 1890. Of those, six were fatal. And of those six, at least two were due to lack of a rabies vaccine in the early 1900's.
Not sure what the panic is about today? How many children have drowned in swimming pools this year in CCC county? Or in car crashes? How many children were killed or seriously injured by not wearing helmets?
J.D. O'Connor (Editor) August 29, 2012 at 03:45 pm
Haven't checked your data but believe it to be correct, LM. Lamorinda Patch was out and about after first hearing of this sighting and we didn't see much "panic." Most everyone being very sensible, kids taken inside just to be safe, etc.
Ian Lipnicky (still a SportsFan) August 29, 2012 at 03:59 pm
I fear the dingoes that we have roaming around. What? Don't try to tell me that we don't have any wild dingoes around here. I'm a Lamorinda Patch commenter. I know everything.
M August 29, 2012 at 04:00 pm
I saw an updated alert saying that the mountain lion sighting was a false alarm. However, this LP alert is no longer visible. Can someone confirm this, please?
Joannie M. Vaisnor August 29, 2012 at 04:23 pm
Is this why a helicopter was hovering above Burton Valley around 11:00 am today?
J.D. O'Connor (Editor) August 29, 2012 at 04:36 pm
Hi, Joannie... yes, it was. Two of them, actually.
Amanda August 29, 2012 at 06:21 pm
Sounds about right. You have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting attacked by a mountain lion. I went running at 4:45am and was 0% scared of getting attacked by a mountain lion.
William McCormack August 29, 2012 at 07:42 pm
Mountain lions make periodic visits to Burton Valley. The last ones I recall reading about occurred during the winter time.
Check out these stories from the last few years. http://www.ibabuzz.com/lamorindasun/2009/02/20/mountain-lions-in-lafayette/ http://www.mhsmirador.com/news/2011/03/11/mounain-lion-sightings-peak-in-bay-area/
J.D. O'Connor (Editor) August 29, 2012 at 07:51 pm
Hello, M... it was not billed as a "false alarm" but there was a chance, as we say in our story, that a dog running off-leash in the area was mistaken for the cat. Authorities taking all precautions and posted advisories in the area.
Ian Lipnicky (still a SportsFan) August 29, 2012 at 10:31 pm
The helicopters seem like a bit of a stretch.
Ian Lipnicky (still a SportsFan) August 29, 2012 at 10:33 pm
But if we don't take every precaution to protect the kids, the Lamorinda parents would go bonkers (even more than they already are).
Eddie Ricks August 29, 2012 at 11:31 pm
I once saw a red racer snake in Alameda...they won't hurt you but I still flipped out.
Chris F. August 30, 2012 at 01:36 pm
Hmmmm, Maybe this will keep those kids from partying back in the park!
David August 30, 2012 at 04:53 pm
Why a stretch? What better way to get an overview of the "scene" and actually track the animal if discovered.
David August 30, 2012 at 04:55 pm
"Cougars" in Lamorinda? :)
Judy Reinsberg August 30, 2012 at 07:08 pm
I saw a mountain lion in my front yard (we are at the top of the hill with open space to the side and across the street) last summer. I am sure it was a mountain lion...long, swaying tail, smallish ears. By the time I found my cell phone, she was sauntering down the street and then jumped up a wall and went back into the woods. Truly amazing to see.

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