SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – Students and staff at a San Mateo County high school are safe after a mountain lion wandered onto the campus on the penultimate day of classes on Wednesday morning.
For more, stream KCBS Radio now.
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said Pescadero High School staff called officials at 8:23 a.m. after a baby cougar had hidden underneath a desk in an English classroom.
"At this time, it's still unknown how it entered the building," San Mateo County Sheriff's Det. Javier Acosta told KCBS Radio during an interview with Margie Shafer on Wednesday morning. "But it was located under a desk – hiding, scared – by the custodial staff."
Acosta said a custodian discovered the cub as they were opening up the school, and officials isolated the mountain lion to the classroom. The school's second-to-last day of classes continued unabated, while the California Department of Fish and Wildlife formulated a plan to remove the animal as safely and humanely as possible.
A state fish and wildlife spokesperson told KCBS Radio in an email on Wednesday morning that the young mountain lion hadn't acted aggressively "at all." The cub could also be "emaciated and not in great health," and officials are awaiting a veterinarian's assessment before deciding when to return the animal to a "suitable habitat."
It wasn't immediately clear where the mountain lion was from. Cougars have previously been spotted at nearby Memorial, Pescadero Creek and Sam McDonald parks, according to the San Mateo County Parks Department.
DOWNLOAD the Audacy App
SIGN UP and follow KCBS Radio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Related
