A mountain lion took a pet poodle from the backyard of a residence on the 500 block of N. Sunset Canyon Drive in the Burbank hillside community just after midnight on Saturday, August 22, according to Sergeant Claudio Losacco of the Burbank Police Department.
The resident saw the mountain lion come into his backyard, take the poodle and disappear into the Verdugo Mountains hillside behind the home, added Losacco.
In recent weeks, coyotes have been spotted throughout the City of Burbank, including near Magnolia Park and Hollywood Way.
On August 21, a bobcat was seen roaming the area near Burbank High School on Third Street.
Periodically throughout the year, mountain lions are seen in the hillside residential area adjacent to the Verdugo Mountains.
For questions concerning this issue, please contact Burbank Animal Control at (818) 238-3340. After hours, please contact the Burbank Police Department at (818) 238-3000.
Burbank Police issued a community bulletin on August 26 to alert the community of the incident and to provide precautions to help keep residents and their pets safe.
The following safety tips have been provided by the California Department of Fish and Game:
- Do not feed deer; it is illegal in California and it will attract mountain lions.
- Trim brush to reduce hiding places for mountain lions.
- Don’t allow pets outside when mountain lions are most active—dawn, dusk and at night.
- Bring pet food inside to avoid attracting raccoons, opossums and other potential mountain lion prey.
- Do not leave small children or pets outside unattended.
- Install motion sensitive lighting around your home.
- Do not hike, bike or jog alone.
- Avoid hiking or jogging when mountain lions are most active—dawn, dusk, and at night.
- Never approach a mountain lion.
- If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms; throw rocks or other objects. Pick up small children. If attacked, fight back.
- If a mountain lion attacks a person, immediately call 911.
