Redlands Footlighters brings holiday cheer and mystery with 'A Sherlock Carol'
Theatergoers can support at-risk youth through the theatre's Hope for the Holidays gift drive supporting YouthHope
What to do if you encounter the wild cat and how to report it
REDLANDS, Calif. - Over the weekend, a mountain lion was spotted in a residential area near downtown Redlands.
Where it happened
The Redlands Police Department responded to reports of a big cat in a tree in the 400 block of East Fern Avenue on Sunday morning.
Dayna Springfield, a resident at the Fernwood Condos, said it all started around 9:30 am when she walked out to her parking garage and saw Redlands Police eyeing a tree branch that overhangs her complex.
“My neighbor on the other side of our block wall called 911 after he went out to see what his dogs were going bonkers about,” said Springfield.
After capturing a video of the mountain lion up in the tree, Springfield said she went back inside to make signs to warn her neighbors.
“A lot of us have dogs that we’re always out walking, so I was worried about them.”
After about an hour, the sound of a power tool startled the mountain lion, Springfield recalled. The animal then jumped down and wandered off through the parking area of Fern Lodge.
“He’s just so magically. I’ve been in Redlands 15 years and I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
Springfield shared with Community Forward the video she took to remember that morning.
Status of mountain lion
According to the Redlands Police Department, the Redlands Police Patrol and Animal Services are working with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to resolve the issue. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has jurisdiction over the sightings. The department has not yet responded to requests by Community Forward for an update.
Earlier mountain lion sighting
Redlands Police were notified about a home surveillance video that showed what appeared to be a mountain lion near the 600 block of E Palm Ave on Tuesday, August 8.
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, there has been an uptick in reports and sightings of mountain lions, likely due to the increased presence of home security cameras, social media, and personal trail cameras.
The Redlands Conservancy reported a mountain lion on the trails in San Timoteo Canyon in October 2022.
Here are some tips from the US Forest Service if you see a mountain lion in your neighborhood or on a trail.
If you see a mountain lion, you can file a Wildlife Incident Report here with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. You can also call 911 and the Redlands Police will forward the report to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter