A mountain lion was spotted visiting a San Mateo backyard Saturday morning.
A resident saw the big cat at about 6:45 a.m. in a backyard on Alameda de las Pulgas and called police, who searched the area but were unable to find the animal.
Video shows the mountain lion also paid a visit to the yard the night before, at about 10 p.m. Friday.
The animal never acted aggressively, according to police.
While it's rare for mountain lions to approach humans, the San Mateo Police Department has tips for staying safe. They include not feeding deer (which attract the big cats), not approaching the animal and avoiding hiking or jogging through wooded areas at dawn, dusk or night when mountain lions are most active.
Parents are also advised to keep a close watch on small children when hiking or traveling in wooded areas.
Anyone who encounters a mountain lion should not run. Instead, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving arms and throwing rocks or other objects. Small children should be picked up.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has provided more information about mountain lions on its website.
