A mountain lion has been spotted near a south Orange County grade school, just a few miles from the wilderness park where a cougar killed a mountain biker and mauled a second person seven years ago.
The Orange County Register reported that there have been two sightings at Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park, not far from Wagon Wheel Elementary School and near the upscale community of Cota de Caza.
The first sighting was during a ranger-led sunset hike on Oak Canyon Trail on Oct. 15, Marisa O'Neil, public information officer for O.C. Parks told the newspaper.
"They saw a mountain lion jump on the trail and run parallel past them and disappear in the brush," O'Neil said.
The second sighting was reported Sunday in the bed of Wagon Wheel Creek, the paper said, citing an incident report.
O'Neil told the Register that an increase in the deer population, a food source for mountain lions, might explain the recent sightings.
In 2004, a mountain lion killed a 35-year-old mountain biker in nearby Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park. The animal mauled a second rider, who was only saved when a friend held on to her as the cougar tried to drag the woman into the bushes.
Mountain lion attacks are rare, but sightings of the powerful animals are not.
Earlier this month, a Sierra Madre resident reported coming across a pair of mountain lions lounging in front of a house.
The animals refused to budge, even with police officers showed up. They finally took off after police turned on the sirens in their squad car.
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-- Steve Marble
Photo: A mountain lion in the Santa Monica Mountains. Credit: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
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