Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park was closed Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 4, and will remain closed due to recent mountain lion activity.
There were few details given about the reason for the closure, but an alert from OC Parks said it was “out of an abundance of caution.”
OC Parks staff is working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and UC Davis Wildlife Health Center biologists who are investigating.
The presence of mountain lions in public parks and the increase in people spending time in the parks have increased over the last 20 years, leading to more interactions between the public and wildlife, officials said.
At times, parks have closed for days or even weeks after a sighting.
Since 2001, UC Davis researchers have conducted the “California Mountain Lion Project” to focus on Southern California mountain lion conservation.
Mountain lions are native to California and the second largest felid in North and South America, according to CDFW. Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare.
Since 1890, there have been fewer than 50 verified mountain lion attacks on humans in California, including six fatal incidents. In most cases, the person was alone when the attack occurred.
“Mountain lions typically pose little threat to humans, and generally avoid any human interaction,” the CDFW website reads. “A person is one thousand times more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a mountain lion. People who live in mountain lion habitat can take precautions to reduce their risk of encountering a mountain lion.”
A few more tips from CDFW:
• Do not hike, bike, or jog at dawn, dusk, or at night. Avoid hiking, biking, or jogging alone.
• Stay alert on trails. Keep pets leashed and walk with small children; don’t let them run ahead.
• Never approach a mountain lion. Give them an escape route.
• Do not run — stay calm. Do not turn your back.
• Face the animal, make loud noises and try to look bigger. If with small children, put them on your shoulders.
• Do not crouch down or bend over.
Visit OCParks.com for updates.