Simi Valley Police Department – Incident Press Release
On December 4, 2019, at approximately 9:53 p.m., Simi Valley Police Officers responded to a report of mountain lion attack on a dog in the 5400 block of Evening Sky Drive. Upon arrival, a resident told them a mountain lion attacked his dog while he was walking it near his residence. The resident said the mountain lion went into his backyard after it attacked his dog. The officers searched the area and could not locate the mountain lion. The resident transported his injured dog to a veterinarian for medical treatment. A California Department of Fish and Wildlife Game Warden responded to the scene and assisted the Simi Valley Police Officers with the investigation.
On December 5, 2019, at approximately 12:57 a.m., the same resident contacted the Simi Valley Police Department and reported the mountain lion had returned to the area and was on the front porch of his residence. Simi Valley Police Officers responded and observed the lion at the lo cation. The mountain lion eventually jumped a residential fence and could not be located.
On December 5, 2019, at 2:27 a.m., Simi Valley Police Officers responded to a report of a mountain lion attacking a dog in the 5400 block of Evening Sky Drive. This reporting party was not the same resident who reported the mountain lion in the area on the two previous incidents. The resident told the officers the following information: She let her small dog out of her residence to use the restroom. When the dog entered her backyard, it ran after what she realized was a mountain lion. The mountain lion responded by attacking the dog. The resident told the officers she jumped on the mountain lion’s back and attempted to pry open its mouth, so it would release her dog. The mountain lion became aggressive towards her and she retreated into her residence.
When the officers entered the home and looked through a window facing the backyard. They observed a mountain lion lying on the grass and it appeared to be eating the dog. A California Fish and Wildlife Warden responded to the scene to assist on the call. The Game Warden deployed a bean-bag shotgun with the intention of utilizing it to encourage the mountain lion to leave the backyard. However, the mountain lion left the backyard prior to any bean-bag rounds being fired. The personnel at the scene searched the area and could not locate the mountain lion.
On December 5, 2019, between 6:16 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., the Simi Valley Police Department has received three reports of mountain lion sightings in the north-east region of the city.
The Simi Valley Police Department is working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on how to best address this situation. The Simi Valley Police Department encourages the community to report all mountain lion sightings immediately.
The below information is from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and includes tips for living and staying safe in areas where mountain lions are known to frequent:
• Do not hike, bike, or jog alone. Stay alert on trails.
• Avoid hiking or jogging when mountain lions are most active – dawn, dusk, and at night.
• Keep a close watch on small children.
• Off leash dogs on trails are at increased risk of becoming prey for a mountain lion.
• Never approach a mountain lion. Give them an escape route.
• DO NOT RUN. Stay calm. Running may trigger chase, catch and kill response. Do not turn your back. Face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms, or opening your jacket if wearing one; throw rocks or other objects. Pick up small children.
• Do not crouch down or bend over. Squatting puts you in a vulnerable position of appearing much like a 4-legged prey animal.
• Be vocal; however, speak calmly and do not use high pitched tones o r high pitch screams.
• Teach others how to behave during an encounter. Anyone who runs may initiate an attack.
• Carry and know how to use bear spray to deter a mountain lion. Bear spray has been shown to be successful in emergency situations with mountain lions. Have the spray readily accessible. Carry in a holster belt or attach to a mountain bike. Talk to the folks at your local outdoor store. Make sure you know how to properly use bear spray. People have been known to spray their own faces when attempting to use it.
• 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.
• If a mountain lion attacks a person, immediately call 911.
• Report unusual mountain lion behavior to your local CDFW regional of fice
• For additional information please visit: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Keep-Me-Wild/Lion
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