Mountain lion seen at CSU Channel Islands; residents urged to stay indoors after dark

Authorities at CSU Channel Islands warned students and nearby residents Tuesday night about the recent presence of a young mountain lion in the area.

"We continue to face a difficult situation with ongoing sightings near residence halls of a juvenile mountain lion that is not collared," wrote Drake Massey, interim chief of the university police department, in a release.

Campus officials have been discussing options with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Mountain lions are a specially protected species, Massey noted, and the university is located at the base of the Santa Monica Mountains, which is lion habitat.

Students and residents of the adjacent University Glen neighborhood were advised to sign up for campus alerts to stay updated. The alerts also provide information during wildfires, earthquakes and other incidents.

Those living in residence halls have been "strongly encouraged" to stay indoors between dusk and dawn.

A representative of the fish and wildlife agency gave a presentation at the campus Monday that can be viewed online.

The police department has increased evening and night patrols around the residence halls and University Glen when the lion is most active, Massey said, and officers are available to escort campus members.

Tall grass and brush have been trimmed down. University police are also discussing the situation with the Ventura County Sheriff's office.

Tim Daly, a spokesman with the state wildlife agency, said the mountain lion had been spotted on or near the campus once or twice a week in the last two months or so. Wildlife officials have determined the feline is a juvenile based on a yellowish coloring on its legs, which eventually grows out as it ages, he said. The young mountain lion does not have a collar.

Daly said campus presentations have focused on what's called hazing, being as loud and obnoxious as possible to keep the animal away from humans.

Outreach with the state wildlife and sheriff's agencies is aimed at protecting people in the area, Massey wrote, and is also meant "to do everything that we can to protect the life of this young mountain lion."

Mountain lion sightings at the campus can be reported to the police agency at 805-437-8444.

Lions have been spotted elsewhere in the county recently.

On Feb. 3, state wildlife officials tranquilized a lion in front of an Ojai home that appeared to be sick or injured.

The female puma was about 10 years old, severely underweight and likely blind, Daly said Wednesday afternoon. As a result of the animal's health being "so poor," she was euthanized Friday, he said. Daly said he did not believe the mountain lion had a radio collar.

The National Park Service has tracked mountain lions as part of a long-term study on how the population in Ventura and Los Angeles counties survives in an increasingly urban area.

On Jan. 22, a 4-year-old collared mountain lion was found dead on Pacific Coast Highway near Las Posas Road, the ninth such death on local roads and highways in less than a year, officials said.

This story may be updated.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Young mountain lion seen around CSU Channel Islands campus