NORTH RANCH : 2nd Mountain Lion in 2 Days Spotted

Residents of a North Ranch neighborhood craned their necks and held binoculars to their eyes Thursday afternoon after several spotted a mountain lion sunning just a few feet from a row of gated homes.

This was the second lion spotted off secluded Blue Mountain Circle in two days. And residents there believe this cat was a larger member of what may be a pride of lions that has settled on the expansive hillside behind them.

“There are deer running through this area all the time, and by the size of this one I’d say they aren’t having any trouble finding food,” said resident Howard Gorbis. “This lion looked pretty healthy.”

Randi Gorbis first spotted the long, sleek animal in the late afternoon as it rested above a fence that surrounds the cul-de-sac of 45 townhouses.

Once a crowd gathered, the cougar slinked away. Then, one resident spotted the cat only momentarily before it bounded over the hilltop.

For those who live in the quiet neighborhood, the new sighting was not cause for too much concern.

“I’d be much more worried if I lived in the (San Fernando) Valley and had to worry about human predators,” said Richard Black. “Lions don’t carry guns.”

Tim Conklin, a 26-year-old resident on the quiet street, charged up the hillside trying to get a closer look at the majestic predator.

“I tried to use my instincts to find out which way it was going,” Conklin said. “Then I saw him race for the ridge. It was really exciting.”

Conklin said that on a hike earlier in the day, he spotted tracks from the animal on a trail behind the housing tract.

“I saw the footprints and they were some pretty impressive claws,” he said. “This is not a small cat.”