By Christine Lee

Staff Writer

Fall is cougar season, and there have been two possible cougar sightings on campus in the past three weeks.

University police was contacted by custodial staff on the evening of Oct. 15 to report a possible mountain lion (also known as cougars, which is the university mascot) sighting on the east side of campus near the University Services Building, according to Associate VP for Communications, Cathy Baur.

After receiving the call, officers conducted a complete check of the campus; however they did not see signs of a mountain lion.

The university sent an email to students, staff members and faculty alerting them to take precautions when walking through campus, particularly at night.

A nearby resident reported a second mountain lion sighting off-campus to University Police on Oct. 23, eight days later. A second email to the campus community was sent at that time.

California Department of Fish and Game say mountain lion attacks on humans are extremely rare. They are quiet, solitary, elusive and typically avoid people. However, conflicts are increasing as California’s human population expands into mountain lion habitat.

Previously, a mountain lion having been spotted on or near campus occur typically in the fall, Baur confirmed.

Bruce Bradley, Occupational Safety and Environmental Health Specialist at CSUSM, offers tips to stay safe against a mountain lion threat:

• Do not hike, bike, or jog alone.

• Avoid hiking or jogging when mountain lions are most active—dawn, dusk, and at night.

• Do not approach a mountain lion.

• If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run. Instead, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms; throw rocks or other objects.

• If attacked, fight back.

• Contact university police immediately if you see a mountain lion, 760-750-4567.

“We think it may have been driven to the area by the 2007 fires,” said Bradley. To find more information on risk management and campus safety, visit csusm.edu/rms/.