Earlier this month, a camper named Kevin had a startling encounter with a mountain lion at Leo Carillo State Park in Malibu. On August 4, while trying to get cell service at a ranger station, Kevin found himself inches away from the wild animal. The mountain lion emerged from the bushes and approached Kevin, who was sitting on an off-road vehicle and looking at his phone. It wasn’t until the mountain lion was nearly upon him that Kevin noticed it. “Right as it came around the corner, I saw it,” Kevin told RMGNews. “I just tried to stay still, and it went right past me.”
Kevin was not only concerned for his own safety but also worried about the children at the campground, as the mountain lion ran off in their direction. He quickly informed park rangers about the sighting and shared the video footage to raise awareness for others enjoying nature.
The encounter occurred just days before an 11-year-old girl was attacked by a mountain lion in the same area. The girl was hospitalized with serious injuries, and the mountain lion was later euthanized. According to KTLA, there have been several mountain lion sightings in Southern California recently, including incidents in Ojai and La Verne.
Mountain lion attacks are rare, with fewer than 50 recorded in California since 1890. California Department of Fish and Wildlife advises caution and provides the following guidelines for safely encountering these animals.
- Stay alert on trails. Keep pets leashed and walk with small children, don’t let them run ahead.
- Never approach a mountain lion. Give them an escape route.
- DO NOT RUN. Stay calm. Do not turn your back.
- Face the animal, make loud noise and try to look bigger. If with small children, put them on your shoulders.
- Do not crouch down or bend over.
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