Mountain lion trapped in homeowner's shed in Hesperia

Authorities found a mountain lion that was trapped inside a homeowner’s shed on the mesa in Hesperia.

City of Hesperia officials said the wild animal was found on Saturday at a home in the 17000 block of Danbury Avenue, north of Ranchero Road.

Agencies that responded to the incident included the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Hesperia Sheriff’s Station and Hesperia Animal Control personnel. Upon arrival, state officials observed the mountain lion, and determined that it was not a threat.

State officials made the determination to contain the animal in the shed overnight. On Sunday morning, Hesperia Animal Control and state officials arrived at the home.

State officials tranquilized the mountain lion shortly after 10 a.m. and immediately removed it from the private property.

State Department of Fish and Wildlife officials planned to collar the 112-pound adult male mountain lion and release it in the hills near Silverwood Lake.

The Silverwood Lake area is located nearly 10 miles south from where the mountain lion was found.

Previous mountain lion reports

City staff suspect the mountain lion was the same cat reported earlier this week.

At least two mountain lion sightings were reported in the southwest portion of Hesperia, city officials announced on April 22, the Daily Press reported.

The sightings were reported in the area of 9th Avenue and Sultana Street, as well as near Farmington Street and Wilson Way, city officials stated.

"While there is no cause for alarm, we urge everyone to exercise caution when outdoors, especially during dawn and dusk, when mountain lions are most active," according to the statement.

Residents are encouraged to bring small pets and animals indoors and to remove open water and food sources from yards. If you see a mountain lion, do not make contact and report it by calling 911, city leaders stated.

State Department of Fish and Wildlife officials shared the following advice when seeing a mountain lion:

• Stay calm. Hold your ground or back away slowly. Face the lion and stand upright.
• Do not approach a lion. Never approach a mountain lion, especially one that is feeding or with kittens. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
• Do not run from a lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lion's instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up, if possible, so they don't panic and run. Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.
• Do not crouch down or bend over. Biologists surmise mountain lions don't recognize standing humans as prey. On the other hand, a person squatting or bending over looks a lot like a four-legged prey animal. If you're in a mountain lion habitat, avoid squatting, crouching, or bending over, even when picking up children.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Mountain lion trapped in homeowner's shed in Hesperia