NewsLocal News

Actions

Second mountain lion sighting reported near Allan Hancock College in Lompoc

Posted at 12:21 PM, Sep 17, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-17 21:45:59-04

A second mountain lion sighting has been reported near Allan Hancock College’s Lompoc campus this month.

The college notified Lompoc police and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, along with students and staff, about the latest sighting Tuesday.

The mountain lion was reportedly seen around 10:30 a.m. on the southeast side of campus near the bike path and adjacent to H Street.

This comes after a sighting last Tuesday near the botanical gardens on campus.

Warning signs have gone up on campus.

Fish and Wildlife does not know if the two sightings near Allan Hancock this month are believed to be the same animal. They say a large herd of goats has been brought in to graze on the land across the highway near the campus, which could be attracting the lions.

Anyone who sees any mountain lions in the area is asked to immediately report it to the Allan Hancock College Police Department in Lompoc at (805) 922-6966, ext. 3911.

Wildlife officials call the mountain lion population near Vandenberg Village "healthy" due to the number of sightings.

In recent months, three mountain lions have been hit and killed
along a stretch of Highway 1 from Vandenberg Air Force Base to Vandenberg Village.

Wildlife officers from the base have been collecting the carcasses so fish and wildlife biologists can then gather data from them.

If someone encounters a mountain lion, wildlife officials say do not turn around and run. Instead, act large, make noise, yell and throw things at it such as sticks and rocks to make it go away.