A Turlock resident is reporting that his pit bull dog was involved in an attack with a mountain lion shortly after midnight on Friday. However, the Turlock Police Department could not confirm that the attack was in fact a mountain lion.
The mountain lion saga began on Sunday evening when a mountain lion was spotted in the area of Berkeley Avenue and Arbor Way. Authorities searched for the lion throughout the night, but were unsuccessful in capturing it.
On Tuesday, authorities reported that they believed the mountain lion had left the area and were calling off the search.
This came after several unconfirmed sightings and reports of the mountain lion, including six that were found to be dogs and one that was an opossum, said California Department of Fish and Wildlife Lt. Patrick Foy.
The Turlock Police Department received another report of a mountain lion on the 700 block of Tuolumne Road around midnight Friday.
Officers responded to a suspicious incident, where a caller had reported his dog had been attacked by an alleged mountain lion.
The resident, Norman Esakhani, said he pulled into his garage when he heard his dog squeal. He ran into his yard and his dog came running back.
Esakhani said the alleged mountain lion was attempting to get to his chicken, but his dog stepped in to scare it off. The dog suffered a wound on its head, caused by the mountain lion, said Esakhani.
The Turlock Police Department responded to the residence at approximately 12:13 a.m.
Officers investigated the area, but were unable to locate any footprints or other evidence that confirmed that the attack was by a mountain lion, said Turlock police spokesperson Officer Mayra Lewis.
However, Eskhani is convinced that a mountain lion attacked his dog.
“I know 200% it was the mountain lion,” said Esakhani. “I didn't see it, but there's nothing else that could've done what happened to my dog.”
Esakhani fears for the safety of his two daughters and the elderly residents who he sees walking in the neighborhood, believing the mountain lion is still in the area despite what authorities have said.
Some Turlockers have expressed concerns with the R.A.M Farms Pumpkin Patch, which opened Friday, with a mountain lion possibly still being in the area. The pumpkin patch also has a corn maze, with some fearing that those in the maze could be subject to an attack.
Anyone who witnesses the mountain lion are encouraged to call the Turlock Police Department at 209-668-5550.
How do we know that this man didn’t scratch his own dog? That would be easier to believe than the mountain lion still being in the area.
I was at the pumpkin patch and corn maze tonight and it was a blast. No mountain lions there but they did have a sweet scary shed!
#mountainlionformayoe
You believe he hurt his own pet to get in the local newspaper? That is just dumb.
The Pumpkin patch is safe no mountain lion would go near there…to many people and to much noise and they don’t like that..
The pumpkin patch is safe! no mountain lion would go near there, to many people and to much noise….and they do not like that!
I agree with Shelley.
And after how many days of no sightings of the mountain lion
i don’t think montain lions are that scared of noise and people if they come into town and are running down the street just sayin
THIS IS SO SCARY HOPE A CHILD IS NOT ATTACKED WHILE OUT IN THE CORN MAZE
MAYBE THEY CAN GET SECURITY???
its not scared if its in our streets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QoxIt1cg78
This story sounds fishy. I would be willing to believe the pit bull was the aggressor here. Nothing is safe around pit bulls.
My kids are safer in my yard with my pit bull than they are at school.
I’d be more concerned with the person who would do that to their dogs ears?!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=454170051319583&set=pb.100001797771307.-2207520000.1411875683.&type=3&theater
I call BS, notice the date in the picture is over a year old and the same picture is used in this article. Publicity stunt. Cool story bro.
Dave you’re a jack ass. Just saying if you thing Pitt bulls are that horrible then you need to go get a life
screw the mountain lion! someone punch the dog owner in the face and throw his fat, poor, illiterate, knuckle dragging, but in jail for animal cruelty – cutting off a dogs ears is cruel. if you cut on dogs you are scum.
seriously – i hope that guy steps on a rake.
Norman Esakhani: two words for jackass.
Norman Esakhani abuses animals.
I heard the mountain lion was spotted again. Is it true??? Please let us know!