Foothill locals warned of lions

GLENDALE — A mountain lion was spotted early Tuesday in the foothill neighborhood above north Brand Boulevard, officials said, prompting warnings to residents and hikers to keep their wits about them, especially in the hillside areas.

Residents reported seeing the mountain lion just after 1 a.m. Tuesday roaming the area of Cielito Drive and Deermont Road, said Hillary Gatlin, Pasadena Humane Society’s community resource assistant.

But the mountain lion didn’t stick around, and may have been long gone when the society’s animal control officers arrived, she said.

“We didn’t see anything,” Gatlin said.

Animal control authorities posted fliers Tuesday night in the foothill neighborhood, advising residents to keep their pets inside at night and to report any lion sightings, she said.

A similar mountain lion sighting on Rimcrest Drive, which is in the same neighborhood of Cielito Drive and Deermont Road, was reported during the weekend, officials said.

Glendale Police sent out an e-mail alert Tuesday night about the mountain lions and provided tips to residents on keeping safe, said Sgt. John Gilkerson, who issued the alert.

Since Tuesday’s sighting, he said no additional lion visuals have been reported.

The alert said “pedestrians are less likely to be attacked than a bicyclist or skateboarder.”

Bicyclists and skateboarders move faster than a person who is walking, and often resemble a mountain lion’s prey, police said.

The recent mountain lion sightings were not unusual and don’t signal a growing trend, Gatlin said.

“We are not seeing any more reports than usual,” she said. “We rarely get an actual visual on the mountain lion.”

While some residents believe they have seen a mountain lion in the foothills, Gatlin said they often mistake the lions for other animals, such as a bobcat.

“For the most part, they stay away from people,” she said.

The first official mountain lion sighting for the year was Feb. 15 at Deukmejian Wilderness Park.

The lion was seen sunning itself in a park clearing, which prompted officials to post notices and warning signs of the sighting.

Mountain lions are quiet and solitary animals, who at adulthood could be as tall as 2 feet, 8 feet long and weigh up to 198 pounds.