Cougar sighted in northwest Gilroy backyard, twice

GILROY—A family that lives in a northwest Gilroy neighborhood outside city limits was quite surprised to peer through their backyard sliding glass door Monday and see an adult mountain lion around 5:30 p.m. The lion returned again at 7 p.m. the following day to their home in Country Oaks Estates, according to resident Yvonne Vergara-Quilici.
“Apparently he’s been coming here for the water,” she said, adding the animal was lapping up the resource from the family’s backyard fountain during both incidents.
Police this week confirmed the early evening sightings in the residential area, characterized by flowing hills and lots of foliage.
“(The area) is in close proximity to mountain lion habitat,” GPD Sgt. Royce Heath said, adding that residents should be aware of their surroundings when outdoors in lion country.
He urges anyone who sees or has an encounter with a cougar to call the Gilroy Police Department at (408) 846-0350 or the California Department of Fish and Game at (831) 649-2070.
See the video attached with this story for footage provided by Vergara-Quilici of the animal in her backyard.
Here are some tips about safety around mountain lions courtesy the Gilroy Police Department:
• Do not hike alone: Go in groups, with adults supervising children.
• Keep children close to you: Observations of captured wild mountain lions reveal that the animals seem especially drawn to children. Keep children within your sight at all times.
• Do not approach a lion: Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
• 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 they do not 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: In Nepal, a researcher studying tigers and leopards watched the big cats kill cattle and domestic water buffalo while ignoring humans standing nearby. He surmised that a human standing up is just not the right shape for a cat’s prey. On the other hand, a person squatting or bending over looks a lot like a four-legged prey animal. If you are 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. Again, pick up small children. 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.
• Fight back if attacked: A hiker in Southern California used a rock to fend off a mountain lion that was attacking his son. Others have fought back successfully with sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools and their bare hands. Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the attacking animal.