Prowling mountain lion spotted in Southern California neighborhood

A large mountain lion was spotted prowling around a Sierra Madre neighborhood in the early morning hours Wednesday.  

Video footage captured the big cat as it moved through the shrubbery of a Sierra Madre resident’s home near East Grandview and Foothill avenues at around 1 a.m. The animal moved up toward the fence before it hopped over a retaining wall into a neighboring driveway.  

After a moment, the mountain lion returned the way it had come and was last seen walking up the street and into the darkness of another resident’s property.  

This sighting comes just two weeks after a mountain lion was seen roaming neighborhood streets in the area of North Baldwin Avenue between East Carter and Mira Monte avenues, just one mile away.  

It’s unclear if it’s the same mountain lion roaming the two neighborhoods. Neither police nor wildlife officials were called about this latest sighting.

Fortunately, residents say no pets have been reported missing.

In nearby Monrovia, a resident’s home surveillance cameras captured a cougar just steps from the front door in the late-night hours of Feb. 25.  

Several weeks earlier, a family in La Verne was alerted to a mountain lion in their backyard after they heard terrifying yelps and guttural noises coming from their giant black schnauzer who was being attacked by the cougar.   

Much of the vicious attack was captured on the homeowner’s surveillance cameras and can be upsetting to watch. Fortunately, the mountain lion was startled enough to run away when the homeowners made noise, giving their dog a chance to bolt to safety.   

The giant schnauzer named Holly was treated by a veterinarian for puncture wounds, scratches and an injury that required stitches. She was expected to fully recover.  

Experts suggest that if you encounter a mountain lion, it’s important to remember these tips:     

• Do not run, which trigger the animal’s predatory instincts to chase    
• Pick up any small children or pets    
• Do not turn your back on the animal, but look at its feet and avoid staring at it in the eyes    
• Raise your arms over your head to appear larger if the animal is acting aggressive    
• Make noise by yelling    
• Never approach the cougar    
• If there are cubs, be extremely careful not to get between them and the mountain lion