came from the Santa Monica Mountains. He somehow crossed the 405 and 101 freeways into Griffith Park about 10 years ago. Silver Lake is between Griffith Park and downtown Los Angeles.There are about 4,000 to 6,000 mountain lions in California, but wildlife officials call that a crude estimate without an ongoing statewide study. More than half of the state is considered prime habitat for the big cats, which can be found wherever deer are present.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife receives hundreds of mountain lion sighting reports each year. Few result in mountain lions being identified as posing an imminent threat to public safety, the department said. Mountain lion attacks on humans are extremely rare and their nature is to avoid humans.
Here's a full list of recommendations from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife of what to do during a mountain lion encounter.Avoid hiking or jogging when mountain lions are most active – dawn, dusk, and at night.Off leash dogs on trails are at increased risk of becoming prey for a mountain lion.DO NOT RUN. Stay calm. Running may trigger chase, catch and kill response. Do not turn your back.
Do not crouch down or bend over. Squatting puts you in a vulnerable position of appearing much like a 4-legged prey animal.Teach others how to behave during an encounter. Anyone who runs may initiate an attack. If a lion attacks, fight back. Research on mountain lion attacks suggests that many potential victims have fought back successfully with rocks, sticks, garden tools, even an ink pen or bare hands. Try to stay on your feet. If knocked down, try to protect head and neck.Report unusual mountain lion behavior to your local CDFW regional office.