Three Mountain Lions Surprise Saugus Residents

By Mike Devlin

Image not recoveredcougarstimesthree.jpg

We know they're out there, but it isn't all that common to see one. Much less near a residential street in the heart of Saugus. Much less in the afternoon. And three of them? Yikes.

KCAL9 has the story (video below). Three big mountain lions were spotted right behind homes backing up to the hills behind Tula Drive in Saugus, a cul-de-sac just east of Seco Canyon.

As a fellow cul-de-sac-against-the-hills-in-Saugus resident, this roars close to home.

Don't panic. But if this is your neighborhood, watch those pets of yours.

But...if you have the bad luck of facing one (or three) of these, experts suggest the counter-instinctual response of getting loud, making yourself look big and slowly moving away. Throw stuff. Punch back if you have to. And if you have young ones, form like Voltron into a mega-beast that will scare them away. (I wouldn't recommend Geekzarre's suggestion to pet it the wrong way, give it a bath, or to distract it with a laser pointer – but all three work wonders against lesser cats.)

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Comments (22)

scvmommaMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 1:41 pm

I have. It was in the natural wash that runs behind my home and two coyotes were bouncing off his butt to get him to leave, He was a big ass bear.

DarlaMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 1:55 pm

When did this happen?? Are there any pictures to be sure they were in deed mountain lions? What did these people do when they saw them, did they just walk away, did they call animal control or the police?? Maybe they misidentified them and they were coyotes....

TalkToMissVMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 3:57 pm

Darla... have you ever SEEN a Coyote? or a Mountain Lion?, they look NOTHING alike I assure you ~ LOL

DarlaMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 6:57 pm

Talk toMiss V - YesI have seen all three of them! (We have property in northern California and currently are dealing with mountain lions and bears, so yes I am all too familiar with these creatures!) I was surprised to hear there were three mountain lions together as they tend to be territorial and you do not generally see them traveling in packs (mother and cubs perhaps), however coyotes do travel in packs and therefore thought perhaps someone didn't know what they were looking at!!

OldschoolmomTuesday, October 22nd, 2013 at 11:54 am

We see them periodically jump off the slope behind the house and run down the property walls to exit out the front of our homes to streets. SCV is built in a "bowl" of mountains. I'm not colling animal control because they have strayed from their natural habitat, I'm going to note where I bought my home and not leave a small dog outside or think I can own an outdoor cat. We have seen and father, mother and cub.

WalkerMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 2:17 pm

We used to live in that area and I seem to remember there being several mountain lion sightings during the time that we lived there. I believe the Signal ran a picture of a Mountain Lion sighting at the corner of Pamplico and Seco, and I also recall a sighting closer to the wash (Decoro/McBean) where the mountain lion confronted (or perhaps just spooked?) a women who was out jogging.

kristiMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 2:26 pm

I don't buy it. Same thing happened a few years ago in my neighborhood in Canyon Country. I saw 3 bobcats (and I correctly identified them as a Biologist) climbing up my hill. The next day, neighbors saw 3 "mountain lions" and called the news trucks. I told the news reporter that they were 100% Bobcats and I am a Biologist who knows how to identify animals. They ignored me and decided to show the panicked parents at the local school--makes better news. The odds of having both lions and bobcat sighting on the same day are pretty much zero.

TalkToMissVMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 3:59 pm

we see Bobcats out here in Val Verde/Hasley Canyon... it's all in the tail :)

IHeartSCVMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 7:58 pm

As a biologist, you should know that your seeing three bobcats a few years doesn't mean this is automatically a case of mis-identification. The behavior described in the video interviews is unusual for either species (walking on the sidewalk?), but the homeowner said it looked most like a photo of a cougar, not a bobcat. The estimated size of "four feet" in length could go for either species depending on whether the homeowner was counting the length of tail and whether he was talking about the adult or one of the juveniles. There are thousands of cougars in California tens of thousands of bobcats, so I don't think either possibility is outrageous.

MikeMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 8:40 pm

Science, Mr. White! Science!

ToddMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 8:54 pm

Cougars, in SCV? The hell you say?!?!?!? (oh, not those kind.....) Seriously tho, I'm curious as to why the disbelief... There has been well documented and repeated encroachment by mountain lions in Burbank in the last couple years. My belief is that their predatory areas have been affected by Station Fire and they're pushed into the urban/wildlife interface for food. Its well documented that in these areas are deer and other prey of a mountain lion... so why wouldn't they be there as well?

scvmommaMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 2:53 pm

Bob Cat, Mountain Lion, coyotes... would want to run into any of these creatures, let alone three of them

VerbatimMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 2:56 pm

I love the map visualization! hahaha

evitalc31Monday, October 21st, 2013 at 4:48 pm

I see raccoons and coyotes all the time. A few weeks ago I saw a skunk and I am sorry but I am more scared of getting sprayed than any predatory animals. Lol

SCVgirlMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 5:02 pm

My aunt lives in a neighborhood where there are mountain lions and they come and sleep under their cars---to get some heat. So be careful if you leave your car in the driveway and try to drive out at night or early morning---so no mountain lions get hurt/not to get in an awkward situation with an angry mountain lion

SusanMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 5:37 pm

Thanks for the heads up, I am in that possible situation every morning. I always try to be quiet because it's so early, I guess I should make noise?

evitalc31Monday, October 21st, 2013 at 6:22 pm

I am an avid hiker. I always play some music or have a bell hanging on my backpack to ward off the animals and it has worked for me for many years.

evitalc31Monday, October 21st, 2013 at 6:22 pm

I am an avid hiker. I always play some music or have a bell hanging on my backpack to ward off the animals and it has worked for me for many years.

Doreen MurrayMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 10:06 pm

My house is in this Zillow picture and I found out about this from someone in Montana. They are old residents of Saugus, Now when I came home this afternoon I was informed that there was still one of those cats I the tree across the street. There are no signs posted so the Moms who let their kids walk to school have no idea I am sure and why the heck aren't Fish and game here getting these poor guys out of here. Just saying.

evitalc31Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013 at 5:48 am

I am from Northern California and seeing these animals would just be another typical day.

Fish witha lanceThursday, October 24th, 2013 at 3:03 pm

Maybe still hanging out there right next to James Foster Elementary school. The little hill behind the property is where kids ride their BMX bikes over jumps they made.

evitalc31Friday, October 25th, 2013 at 6:00 am

I am with you. I live close to Placerita Cyn Nature Center. We see wild animals frequently so we don't leave our pets outside. Even a bigger dog could get seriously injured if they don't have an adequate enclosure keeping them safe.

scvmommaMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 1:41 pm
I have. It was in the natural wash that runs behind my home and two coyotes were bouncing off his butt to get him to leave, He was a big ass bear.
DarlaMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 1:55 pm
When did this happen?? Are there any pictures to be sure they were in deed mountain lions? What did these people do when they saw them, did they just walk away, did they call animal control or the police?? Maybe they misidentified them and they were coyotes....
TalkToMissVMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 3:57 pm
Darla... have you ever SEEN a Coyote? or a Mountain Lion?, they look NOTHING alike I assure you ~ LOL
DarlaMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 6:57 pm
Talk toMiss V - YesI have seen all three of them! (We have property in northern California and currently are dealing with mountain lions and bears, so yes I am all too familiar with these creatures!) I was surprised to hear there were three mountain lions together as they tend to be territorial and you do not generally see them traveling in packs (mother and cubs perhaps), however coyotes do travel in packs and therefore thought perhaps someone didn't know what they were looking at!!
OldschoolmomTuesday, October 22nd, 2013 at 11:54 am
We see them periodically jump off the slope behind the house and run down the property walls to exit out the front of our homes to streets. SCV is built in a "bowl" of mountains. I'm not colling animal control because they have strayed from their natural habitat, I'm going to note where I bought my home and not leave a small dog outside or think I can own an outdoor cat. We have seen and father, mother and cub.
WalkerMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 2:17 pm
We used to live in that area and I seem to remember there being several mountain lion sightings during the time that we lived there. I believe the Signal ran a picture of a Mountain Lion sighting at the corner of Pamplico and Seco, and I also recall a sighting closer to the wash (Decoro/McBean) where the mountain lion confronted (or perhaps just spooked?) a women who was out jogging.
kristiMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 2:26 pm
I don't buy it. Same thing happened a few years ago in my neighborhood in Canyon Country. I saw 3 bobcats (and I correctly identified them as a Biologist) climbing up my hill. The next day, neighbors saw 3 "mountain lions" and called the news trucks. I told the news reporter that they were 100% Bobcats and I am a Biologist who knows how to identify animals. They ignored me and decided to show the panicked parents at the local school--makes better news. The odds of having both lions and bobcat sighting on the same day are pretty much zero.
TalkToMissVMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 3:59 pm
we see Bobcats out here in Val Verde/Hasley Canyon... it's all in the tail :)
IHeartSCVMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 7:58 pm
As a biologist, you should know that your seeing three bobcats a few years doesn't mean this is automatically a case of mis-identification. The behavior described in the video interviews is unusual for either species (walking on the sidewalk?), but the homeowner said it looked most like a photo of a cougar, not a bobcat. The estimated size of "four feet" in length could go for either species depending on whether the homeowner was counting the length of tail and whether he was talking about the adult or one of the juveniles. There are thousands of cougars in California tens of thousands of bobcats, so I don't think either possibility is outrageous.
MikeMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 8:40 pm
Science, Mr. White! Science!
ToddMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 8:54 pm
Cougars, in SCV? The hell you say?!?!?!? (oh, not those kind.....) Seriously tho, I'm curious as to why the disbelief... There has been well documented and repeated encroachment by mountain lions in Burbank in the last couple years. My belief is that their predatory areas have been affected by Station Fire and they're pushed into the urban/wildlife interface for food. Its well documented that in these areas are deer and other prey of a mountain lion... so why wouldn't they be there as well?
scvmommaMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 2:53 pm
Bob Cat, Mountain Lion, coyotes... would want to run into any of these creatures, let alone three of them
VerbatimMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 2:56 pm
I love the map visualization! hahaha
evitalc31Monday, October 21st, 2013 at 4:48 pm
I see raccoons and coyotes all the time. A few weeks ago I saw a skunk and I am sorry but I am more scared of getting sprayed than any predatory animals. Lol
SCVgirlMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 5:02 pm
My aunt lives in a neighborhood where there are mountain lions and they come and sleep under their cars---to get some heat. So be careful if you leave your car in the driveway and try to drive out at night or early morning---so no mountain lions get hurt/not to get in an awkward situation with an angry mountain lion
SusanMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 5:37 pm
Thanks for the heads up, I am in that possible situation every morning. I always try to be quiet because it's so early, I guess I should make noise?
evitalc31Monday, October 21st, 2013 at 6:22 pm
I am an avid hiker. I always play some music or have a bell hanging on my backpack to ward off the animals and it has worked for me for many years.
evitalc31Monday, October 21st, 2013 at 6:22 pm
I am an avid hiker. I always play some music or have a bell hanging on my backpack to ward off the animals and it has worked for me for many years.
Doreen MurrayMonday, October 21st, 2013 at 10:06 pm
My house is in this Zillow picture and I found out about this from someone in Montana. They are old residents of Saugus, Now when I came home this afternoon I was informed that there was still one of those cats I the tree across the street. There are no signs posted so the Moms who let their kids walk to school have no idea I am sure and why the heck aren't Fish and game here getting these poor guys out of here. Just saying.
evitalc31Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013 at 5:48 am
I am from Northern California and seeing these animals would just be another typical day.
Fish witha lanceThursday, October 24th, 2013 at 3:03 pm
Maybe still hanging out there right next to James Foster Elementary school. The little hill behind the property is where kids ride their BMX bikes over jumps they made.
evitalc31Friday, October 25th, 2013 at 6:00 am
I am with you. I live close to Placerita Cyn Nature Center. We see wild animals frequently so we don't leave our pets outside. Even a bigger dog could get seriously injured if they don't have an adequate enclosure keeping them safe.