Mountain lion goes for a dip in Lake Mission Viejo

Some Lake Mission Viejo residents woke as much as an uncommon sight over the weekend: an enormous mountain lion strolling round of their yard after which going for a leisurely dip within the lake.

Resident Valerie Strowski mentioned she was woken up by a loud thud exterior her lakeside house round 1:20 a.m. Saturday.

Her husband checked their surveillance digicam and noticed {that a} mountain lion was of their yard. 

The massive cat frolicked on the couple’s dock for about quarter-hour earlier than strolling alongside the lakeside after which diving in for a swim.

Residents referred to as the Orange County Sheriff’s Workplace after recognizing the wild animal close to their houses, and deputies arrived on the scene to seek out the mountain lion swimming throughout the lake.

“Noticed it wanting within the water and I assumed there’s no manner, there’s no manner it’s going to do that — however I had a extremely bizarre feeling it was — and it dove into the water,” Strowski mentioned.

Mission Viejo Animal Providers mentioned they’re holding an eye fixed out for the mountain lion and checking surveillance footage within the space.

Residents within the space had been suggested to not crouch down or run away if they arrive face-to-face with a mountain lion, Animal Providers mentioned.

Mountain lions are solitary and elusive, and sometimes keep away from folks by nature.

It’s not identified why mountain lions enterprise out to neighborhoods, however wildlife specialists say that because the human inhabitants expands into mountain lion habitat, there can be extra frequent sightings. 

In recent times, there have been ever-increasing interactions between folks and mountain lions, in accordance with the California Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The company presents this recommendation to any Californian who encounters a mountain lion:

• By no means strategy a mountain lion. Give them an escape route.
• Don’t run. Keep calm. Don’t flip your again. Face the animal, make noise and attempt to look greater.
• Don’t crouch down or bend over.

Individuals who stay in mountain lion habitat can take precautions to scale back their danger of encountering a mountain lion by:

• Deer-proof their property to keep away from attracting a lion’s important meals supply.
• Take away dense vegetation from across the house to scale back hiding areas.
• Set up out of doors lighting to make it troublesome for mountain lions to strategy unseen.
• Safe livestock and out of doors giant pets in sturdy, coated shelters at evening.