Staff Report –
Mountain lion sightings are up around Angels Camp in Calaveras County north of Coulterville, and police are warning people not to feed the wildlife.
The Angels Camp Police Department addressed a recent jump in mountain lion sightings by saying big cats moving through neighborhoods that border open space is not unusual and “are to be expected” and do not necessarily mean anyone is in danger.
But they warn that deer are a primary food source for mountain lions, so anything that keeps deer hanging around town can draw the predators in.
Knowingly feeding deer and other big game mammals is prohibited in California under Title 14, Section 251.3 of the state’s Code of Regulations, and police asked residents not to feed wildlife of any kind, pointing out that even well-meaning handouts can cause problems for the animals and the surrounding neighborhood.
The department also asked residents to secure small livestock and pets at night, and to avoid leaving pet food, livestock feed or other food outside where wild animals can get to it.
Local officers with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the primary agency responsible for wildlife management in the state, will be running additional patrols in Angels Camp in response to the recent sightings.
Reporting from Active NorCal.
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