Mountain Lion Prowls Old Arcata Road

Advice: "Look large, wave your arms and yell"

Humboldt Sentinel
News 9/16/08
By Sentinel Staff

ARCATA -- Monday morning marked the return of children to school, students to the university -- and a mountain lion to the eastern reaches of Arcata.

According to official reports, at about 10:20 a.m., Arcata Police Department officers were dispatched to the 1700 block of Old Arcata Road after receiving reports from residents who had spotted a mountain lion. Witnesses say they saw the cat walking east on Spring Hill Road into the wooded area just east of Old Arcata Road.

However, officers were unable to locate the mountain lion on foot, and subsequently notified the state Department of Fish and Game. While administrators at nearby Jacoby Creek School were contacted along with local residents, no evacuations took place and the school day continued normally.

APD issued their standard advice in dealing with a mountain lion in yesterday's press release: "Look large; raise your arms and yell. throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without bending down. Do not crouch. Keep pets and children close to you. Don't run. Running may stimulate the lion's instinct to chase. Fight back if attacked. Remain standing and face the animal. Most mountain lions do their best to avoid an encounter with humans. Give the cat a way out and don't ever approach a mountain lion."

Residents are urged to notify APD of any further mountain lion sightings.