HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.1.20 County Wide Email Displaced Animals - North Complex Fire (Potential Mountain Lion sighting - Mira Loma area (Oroville)
From:CountywideNotification
To:Agriculture;Assessor;Auditor;Alpert, Bruce;Bennett, Robin;Clerk of the Board;Connelly, Bill;Cook, Holly;
Lambert, Steve;Lucero, Debra;McCracken, Shari;Paulsen, Shaina;Pickett, Andy;Ring, Brian;Ritter, Tami;
Rodas, Amalia;Sweeney, Kathleen;Teeter, Doug;CAO - Administration (All Employees);Child Support Services;
Child Support Services;Communications;County Announcements;County Counsel;CountywideNotification;DA -
_All Employees;DBH - All;Dept Employment & Social Services;Development Services;ECR - Clerk-Recorder All
Users;Email Administrator;Farm & 4H Advisor;General Services;GIS;Human Resources;Information Systems
(County I.S. Dept.);IS Help Desk (County I.S. Dept.);LAFCO;Learning Center;Library;Probation - Juvenile Hall;
Probation - MainOffice;Public Health;Public Works;Sheriff;Treasurer & Tax Collector;Veterans Services;Water
& Resource Conservation
Subject:Displaced Animals - North Complex Fire (Potential Mountain Lion sighting - Mira Loma area (Oroville)
Date:Thursday, October 1, 2020 10:08:15 AM
Attachments:image001.png
Good Morning,
We recently had a citizen report to county staff at the Mira Loma County Offices (Oroville)
that there was potentially a mountain lion in the area and although there was no actual
confirmed sighting I thought it might be a good idea to remind staff of some safety tips
regarding mountain lions as there may be some displaced wildlife including mountain lions
that could be moving in/around more urban areas due to the recent fires. Mountain lions
also called cougars, pumas, panthers, and catamounts typically roam throughout the Butte
County area, but are usually quiet and elusive sticking to the more remote areas of the
County away from humans. Although your chances of seeing one of these secretive
animals is slight, people do sometimes encounter them. Typically, mountain lion sightings
occur from a distance and usually around dawn or dusk. However, lions are unpredictable
and given the fires they may be seen at other times in areas they are typically not found.
Follow these general guidelines provided by the National Park Service to stay safe:
• Do not jog, hike or walk alone. Go in groups with adults supervising children.
• Keep children close to you. Do not allow children to play along river banks, in heavy
vegetation, or alone at dawn or dusk. When hiking with children, watch them closely and
never let them run ahead of you.
If you encounter a lion, remember the goals are to convince it that you are not prey
and that you may be dangerous. Follow these safety tips:
• Do not approach a lion. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a
way to escape as that will typically be their preferred option.
• Do not run from a lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lion's instinct to chase. Instead,
stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them
up if possible so that they don't panic and run. Although it may be awkward, pick them up
without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.
• Do not crouch down or bend over. A human standing up is just not the right shape for a
lion's prey. Conversely, a person squatting or bending over resembles a four-legged prey
animal. In mountain lion country, avoid squatting, crouching or bending over, even when
picking up children.
• Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing
one. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your
back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. The idea is to convince the
mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may be a danger to it.
Once again, there have been no confirmed sightings of any lions in our area but please
report any mountain lion sightings to your supervisor/manager.
Kindregards,
Sheri
Sheri Waters
Director, Human Resources
3ACountyCenterDriveOroville,CA.95965
530-552.3565 Phone
530-538-7790Fax
swaters@buttecounty.net
Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. - A. J. D'Angelo