Mountain lion spotted with a dead deer on Burbank hillside

Burbank police issued a community alert after a mountain lion was spotted dragging a deer carcass up a driveway in a hillside neighborhood Wednesday night.

The sighting was reported by a resident in the 3300 block of Wedgewood Lane near Verdugo Mountain Park just before 9 p.m., police Sgt. Darin Ryburn.

Police on Thursday warned residents not to feed deer, which attract mountain lions, and to bring pets and pet food inside overnight. Police also recommended that residents install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.

Joggers and hikers also shouldn’t be out alone, and be aware that mountain lions are most active at dawn, dusk and at night. If someone comes across a lion, they should try to make themselves appear bigger, make noise and throw rocks. If attacked, fight back, police added.

Burbank has a history of mountain lion sightings, many of them involving cougars prowling between parked cars on the street or as they run off back into the hillside brush.

In 2011, two emaciated mountain lion cubs were rescued from under a parked car. They were taken to a wildlife center in Calabasas for rehabilitation.

People in Burbank who spot a mountain lion are urged to call police at (818) 238-3000.

-- Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Follow on Google+ and on Twitter: @atchek.

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