Aptos community working to protect residents from mountain lions

An increase in mountain lion sightings in the Aptos/Rio Del Mar area have some residents carrying stun guns and air horns when walking around the neighborhood – and some are just plain staying inside.

Dixie Quin, like many residents near the Seascape Golf course, enjoys walking the hills around her home. But that all changed when she came across a mountain lion chasing a raccoon right in her backyard.

“I saw these four eyes, two little beady eyes. He’s probably shaking in his boots. And this mountain lion, she was enormous,” said Quin.

And Quin is just one of many in the neighborhood who’ve encountered the same big cat.

“We’ve had over 10 sightings, and it’s a female with her cub,” said resident Jeannine Hubbard.

Hubbard has lived in Rio Del Mar for 40 years. After talking with neighbors about the recent sightings, she came up with a plan. She started gathering signatures to petition Santa Cruz County for permanent mountain lion warning signs around the area. Hubbard also started a neighborhood email to report sightings.

“We’re concerned about our children. We’re concerned about communication,” said Hubbard.

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend said permanent warning signs are a possibility. Right now he’s working with the various county agencies to make it happen. In the meantime, Hubbard and other residents started posting paper signs alerting the community about the recent sightings.

“I don’t go any further than a block down now, and I actually take my dog to Seacliff now to walk,” said Hubbard.

Dixie Quin agrees. She said she’ll never forget that night she came face to face with a mountain lion.

“It gives you the creeps now. You feel like something is watching you,” said Quin.

All sightings have been reported to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. If you stumble upon a big cat, experts suggest you make yourself look big and never run.