Burbank family dog reportedly attacked by mountain lion
A dog was reportedly attacked by a mountain lion early Tuesday morning at the same Burbank hillside backyard where a mountain lion was spotted earlier this month, authorities said.
A resident was awakened at 4:30 a.m. by loud yelps, and found one of his two Rhodesian Ridgebacks injured, said Burbank Animal Shelter Supt. Brenda Castaneda. The resident, who lives in the 1000 block of Hamline Place, then reportedly saw a mountain lion on a hill behind the wall of his backyard.
Information on the dog’s injuries or her current condition was not immediately available.
After 11 a.m., the shelter received three other reports of possible mountain lion sightings. At least one was suspected to have just been a bobcat, Castaneda said. When air support surveyed the area Tuesday morning, however, officers saw only deer, she added.
On Jan. 3, the same Hamline Place resident reported seeing a mountain lion after his two large dogs began barking furiously around 1 a.m. He suspected the animal was drinking water out of his swimming pool, authorities had said.
A community meeting about the recent sightings is slated for 10 a.m. Saturday in the Burbank Hills Estates, which is a gated community. For more information, call the Burbank Animal Shelter at (818) 238-3340.
Authorities recommended abiding by the following safety precautions:
- Do not feed deer because it’s illegal in California and it will attract mountain lions.
- Trim brush to reduce hiding places for mountain lions.
- Don’t allow pets outside or go jogging when mountain lions are most active — dawn, dusk, and at night.
- Bring pet food inside to avoid attracting raccoons, opossums and other potential mountain lion prey.
- Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
- If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms; throw rocks or other objects. Pick up small children. If attacked, fight back.
- If a mountain lion attacks a person, call 911 immediately.
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Follow Alene Tchekmedyian on Google+ and on Twitter: @atchek.
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