THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — What was initially believed to be a younger mountain lion wandering by means of a Thousand Oaks neighborhood turned out to be nothing greater than a big home cat, wildlife authorities have confirmed.
The confusion started when an area resident, Kelly McGee, and her husband noticed an uncommon animal by means of their dwelling safety digicam. “We’ve by no means seen a mountain lion and once I first noticed it I believed it was a cat as a result of we get lots of neighborhood cats,” McGee shared. The looks of the animal initially led them to suspect it is likely to be one thing extra unique.
Upon nearer inspection of the footage, doubts started to emerge. “Once I zoomed in I used to be like I don’t suppose that’s a cat, and my husband checked out it and was like no it’s not a cat,” McGee recounted. This prompted considerations that the creature might probably be a juvenile mountain lion.
The McGees aren’t any strangers to native wildlife. “We’ve had coyotes, we’ve had a bobcat, raccoons, however even in all of the years my dad and mom have been right here we’ve by no means seen a mountain lion,” McGee mentioned, highlighting the number of animals which have handed by their dwelling through the years.
Nevertheless, after an investigation, a spokesperson for the Fish and Wildlife’s South Coast and Inland Desert areas clarified the state of affairs to the Los Angeles Occasions, confirming that the suspected mountain lion was really only a home cat.
Additional discussions with neighbors revealed that a couple of resident had captured related footage, suggesting a mountain lion was within the space. In a single occasion, a Ring digicam from a neighboring home recorded a video the place the so-called mountain lion was seen chasing a smaller home cat.
The incident precipitated fairly a stir among the many neighborhood residents, prompting them to be extra cautious. “You need to be reminded that you simply reside someplace the place you share your house with wildlife,” McGee remarked earlier than the precise nature of the animal was confirmed. She emphasised the necessity for additional warning, particularly at evening. “Now that we now have this child mountain lion and understanding mother could also be close by we’re going to be additional cautious at evening once we let the canine out, take the trash out, issues like that.”
Reduction got here when it was reported that the home cat seen within the Ring video had safely made it again dwelling, with a neighbor confirming to ABC7 that every one was nicely. This revelation helped calm the nerves of the neighborhood, reassured that their neighborhood was secure from the presence of a predator.
Click on the video under to look at this unbelievable story!
Please ‘SHARE’ to go on this story to a good friend or member of the family
Click on ‘SHARE’ under to go it on to a good friend or member of the family!