Mountain lion spotted by Neary Lagoon in Santa Cruz Thursday night

A resident reported seeing a mountain lion in the Neary Lagoon area around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Santa Cruz police said.

The mountain lion was reported seen in the area behind Blackburn Street and police closed off the area as a precaution.

Police sent out an alert advising residents in the area of the sighting and urged them to use caution and secure small pets and children. The CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife also responded.

“I think they are more afraid of us then we are of them,” said Anita Martinez, a Santa Cruz resident who, at 90, walks through the Neary Lagoon everyday.

Fish and Wildlife said it doesn’t have any updates on the puma’s whereabouts. The department did say it gets calls on possible sightings every day around this time of year.