A mountain lion was spotted in the backyard of a San Mateo resident's home on Wednesday morning.
The man initially observed the big cat standing near a recently killed raccoon behind his home at the 500 block of Bucknell Dr.
Once the lion saw the resident, it immediately jumped on top of a fence and stayed perched there for a "few moments" before running out of sight towards Colgate Ave, police said.
Authorities conducted a "thorough search" of the neighborhood, but were unable to find the animal.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife told KTVU they suspect the lion separated from its mom, took a wrong turn and is searching for food.
The resident described the lion as the size of a large dog – about two feet tall, four feet long and 50 pounds. She said the animal was not aggressive towards her.
Officials reminded residents not to approach a mountain lion if they see one and instead face the animal, make noise and try to look big. A full list of safety tips can be found here and for more information on mountain lions, go here.
