Mountain lion sightings reported in Rohnert Park

Multiple mountain lion sightings were reported early Thursday morning in Rohnert Park, according to authorities, the first time one has been spotted in the area since October 2021.

Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety said it received reports of mountain lion sightings around 4:30 a.m. near Copeland Creek Trail, between Country Club Drive and Snyder Lane, and in the area of Sunrise Park, the department said in a news release.

Officers checked the areas but couldn’t located the cougar. They believed it could have been making its way back toward the hills.

“If it was going back toward the hills, then it was doing what it was supposed to be doing,” said Aaron Johnson, deputy chief of the public safety department.

Any mountain lion seen in those areas wasn’t being tracked by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Johnson said.

With an estimated population of 4,000-6,000 in California, cougars have a secretive nature and are typically found in mountains, urban fringes and open spaces, from foggy coastal forests to eastern deserts.

Attacks on humans are uncommon. A person is 1,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a mountain lion, according to the state’s fish and wildlife department.

The last mountain lion spotted in Rohnert Park was in October 2021 near two schools. Nicknamed Wobbly, it had a neurological condition, which ultimately led to it being euthanized.

Since 1986, there have been 19 verified attacks, three of which were fatal. Reports show few attacks in Northern California, with most having occurred in Orange County.

Still, police asked that people use caution and stay aware of their surroundings while walking outside, especially with pets and children.

The county of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation department said it’s very rare to see a mountain lion, but if you live in an area where one has been seen, here’s your best defense against the animal:

• Don’t hike alone. If you do, avoid dawn, dusk or night hours.
• Keep small children close.
• Keep dogs on a leash.
• Don’t approach or run from a mountain lion.
• Don’t crouch or bend when a mountain lion is in view.

This story includes reporting from the Sacramento Bee.

You can reach Staff Writer Alana Minkler at 707-526-8511 or alana.minkler@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @alana_minkler.