Mountain Lion Sightings Increasing
The SFGate has an article on the increase in reports of mountain lion sightings. Here is the pertinent information from the article:

A teenage boy saw what he thought was a mountain lion in Strawberry Canyon on the UC Berkeley campus Monday, one of three sighting of the big cats in the East Bay this week.
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However, a university employee reported seeing a mountain lion across the canyon just north of the Lawrence Hall of Science parking lot at about 8:30 a.m. on June 15, she said. Both sightings occurred on undeveloped university land in the hills above campus.
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The district typically receives about 20 reports a year, Bobzien said, but that figure has already been surpassed. He attributed the increase in sightings to increased awareness of the big cats in the wake of three attacks on people, one of them fatal, elsewhere in California earlier this year.

Consider this a word of caution about the danger that mountain lions present. It is probably a good idea to bring a friend along while hiking or jogging in the area up above campus because of the possibility of running into one of these animals. As the article notes, these sightings have not involved any threatening behavior by the animals, and should not be a reason to avoid any of the beautiful trails above campus, as long as a little common sense is exercised.

To learn more about mountain lions and for information on "How to reduce the chances of an encounter with a Mountain Lion" and "How to reduce the chances of an attack when encountering a Mountain Lion" check out this website.
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