Chief MacKinnon said that once reports of the sightings were received the SPPD activated the REVERSE 911® notification system to make area residents - about 805 households - aware of the situation.“We want to keep people aware of the safety issues that still exist and to take appropriate precautions,” as well as to “call us if they see anything as soon as possible as well as the direction of travel if they can determine that...”Chief MacKinnon said Fish and Game made contact with the United States Department of Agriculture experts to see if they “would be interested in coming out to access the site,” and possibly track and trap the animals.“Although very experienced” Fish and Game personnel is “very praiseworthy of the people with the USDA...these people are extremely experienced and we’re hoping to get their expertise out here as well” to trap and release the animals back into the wilderness.Thursday Chief MacKinnon said there had been no reports of sightings since Tuesday.“The game wardens returned yesterday,” in response to “information from a citizen outside the immediate area,” that reported what they suspected might be the permanent den of the lions in Fagan Canyon.“They visited the site and seemed pretty interested and will follow up on that.”The SPPD has been subject to criticism over the killing of the mountain lion and Chief MacKinnon has personally responded to up to 20 emails sent to the department.Chief MacKinnon, a self-described animal lover, understands the “reaction and the passion that some people feel about this, but I was bothered by the fact they were responding clearly without all the information...the accusations on our professionalism and ability to handle the problem wasn’t based on any logic.”Throughout the state, sightings of mountain lions are becoming more common: On Monday, a resident of a Santa Rosa, CA canyon area neighborhood successfully fought off two mountain lions that aggressively approached her while she was walking her dog.
No new sightings of mountain lions in residential areas
February 20, 2009
Santa Paula Police Department
With no new sightings of mountain lions in the northern residential area of the city the television news helicopters are gone, and although there have been no reports of the animals’ return Santa Paula, police are still urging that residents remain cautious and aware.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesWith no new sightings of mountain lions in the northern residential area of the city the television news helicopters are gone, and although there have been no reports of the animals’ return Santa Paula, police are still urging that residents remain cautious and aware.Santa Paula Police shot and killed a mountain lion Tuesday morning after days of reports that up to five animals - a mixture of two adults, a juvenile and two cubs - were seen in the area of Dana and Glade drives above Fagan Canyon.The residence where the cub confronted SPPD Officers - waiting for California Department of Fish and Game personnel with tranquilizer darts and traps - is home to a large family.SPPD Officers set up a perimeter around the yard when a mountain lion cub advanced on two of the officers who felt there was an imminent threat and shot and killed the animal.Fish and Game officials are continuing to monitor the situation, which a spokesman described as unusual.Mountain lions had been seen in the area since Friday and it was determined that there were two female adults, two cubs weighing 35 to 40 pounds each and a juvenile.Police Chief Steve MacKinnon said Tuesday that officers responded to the 300 block of Dana Drive in response to “two separate sightings of two different lions...while awaiting the arrival of Fish and Game one lion left the bush and essentially, because of the imminent threat and based on what the lion was doing unfortunately the officer had to shoot it.”Once Fish and Game arrived on scene a “very thorough search of the area” was conducted lasting about 90 minutes.Another call was received that reported a mountain lion on Glade Drive just west of the location of officers and state personnel but,“We didn’t have confidence that the cat would still be in the immediate area,” as the person who dialed 911 had waited before contacting police.
