Numerous reports have surfaced recently about a mountain lion inside Turlock’s urban area.
The most recent report is the most startling. Pam Gemperle, of Gemperle Farms, who lives near the intersection of Tuolumne Road and Quincy Road, says the mountain lion was in her backyard Thursday night.
“Yes, the mountain lion was in our backyard last night,” she said. “At about 2 a.m. my son, who is 22, heard our cat screaming so he ran to the back door and he saw the mountain lion chasing the cat just a few feet away, right behind the back door. Thankfully there was a shovel by the door and he grabbed it and chased it waving it back and forth while screaming and the mountain lion streaked off. I know of several neighbors who have seen tracks in their yards.”
On Sunday, Aug. 23, again at about 2 a.m., her son’s girlfriend also saw the mountain lion near a cornfield at Waring Road and Tuolumne Road.
Earlier that night at 8:32 p.m. Rachel Ladd posted on the Turlock Neighborhood Watch Facebook page, “Just a heads up; got a neighborhood alert about a mountain lion being seen twice way out East Ave by Sante Fe. Be careful if biking out that way.”
Dennis Doo, a Turlock realtor, says he has also heard reports of a mountain lion near Santa Fe Drive and Pepper Street, as well as near Hawkeye Avenue and Verduga Road, incredibly close to heavily populated areas.
“The severe lack of water effects all wildlife. The mountain lion is probably thirsty and hungry,” said Doo.
This isn’t the first time in recent years that a mountain lion has been spotted in Turlock. In July of 2012 an 80-pound mountain lion was found in a tree in the backyard of a residence in the 5000 block of Linwood Avenue. Stanislaus County Sheriff's deputies shot and killed the mountain lion when it began to climb down from the tree toward them.
California Department of Fish and Game could not be reached to confirm the sightings, however the website provides information about mountain lions. The Turlock Police Departments has received one report of a mountain lion sighting, but officers were unable to locate the animal.
The CDFW advises residents not to run away from a mountain lion, as “Running may stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal.”
The National Park Service recommends to “shout in a low voice and wave your arms” and “maintain eye contact and do not crouch down. Throw sticks or rocks and if an attack occurs, fight back.”
According to the CDFW’s Public Safety Wildlife Guidelines, an animal is deemed to be a threat to public safety if there is, “a likelihood of human injury based on the totality of the circumstances.” Circumstance considered here includes the mountain lion’s behavior, and its proximity to schools, playgrounds, and other public gathering places.
The CDFW or local law enforcement will determine where an animal is or is not a public safety threat. If the animal is deemed to be a public safety threat, the CDFW or law enforcement on scene will secure the area, then locate and kill the dangerous animal. The CDFW does not relocate mountain lions that are considered a threat to public safety.
Anyone who sees a mountain lion can contact the Turlock Police Department at 209-668-5550.
With Fish & Game relocating mountain lions in the coast range by helicopter no doubt we will see more of them.
Bad Kitty!
Let’s hope this year they don’t shoot the mountain lion because it moves…
This is what happens when they ban hunting ! Over population
This is the tree huggers fault for banning lion hunting! Need to bring it back, ranchers should have permission to shoot on sight any lion they see! Only animal in California that will stalk and attack people! Well, other than Bigfoot!
This isn’t a matter of over population, they’re hungry due to the lack of water. Happens every drought.
Relax, Robert. There has been only 14 attacks on humans since 1986 and 3 of them were considered “fatal.” They are more interested in your animals, than you. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/lion/attacks.html
I would like to find this kitty. I love big kitty. If you see it call or come see me Chu Mi Goo at chicken bowl I buy big kitty dead or alive.
Chu Mi Goo is just a racist commenter. There’s no need for that kind of thing in any paper. The author was trying to make a joke in very poor taste at some wonderful restaurants and great business people in our area.
This article has many errors, probably in cut and paste. Proofread before publishing! It will make you and the paper more credible!!
If Soiseth was mayor he would take care of Turlocks mountain lion problems. He knows how to shoot guns.
Just tranquilize it. I seriously doubt it means to kill everyone in Turlock, though I kind of wish it would!
Shooting something because it’s climbing down a tree is barbaric and, not to mention, cowardly. Grow some backbone.
This is the result of not having any supported local trappers. To kill the cat is crazy. It’s even more crazy to not have any qualified trappers who can safely remove it.
Seriously? How do you get hired as a journalist if you can’t handle your grammar? PROOF READ PLEASE.
Basically, over population has nothing to do with it. Between this damn drought and those fires in the Sierras, poor things have hardly anywhere to go. Right now, there are dozens of police and animal control officers with assault rifles a block from my house. There was a siting on Berkley and California an hour ago…
It absolutely has everything to do with overpopulation of mountain lions since the ban and their natural food source dwindling by half! The drought is another factor, because the drought is dropping the deer population even further. I’m sure the deer poaching isn’t helping either.