The incidence of mountain lions preying upon household pets in Wrightwood has increased significantly in recent weeks.
There have been repeated sightings of the cats – known by the scientific name puma concolo  – throughout Wrightwood on both sides of the east/west San Bernardino County/Los Angeles County boundary.
Mature males of the species generally weigh between 118 pounds and 220 pounds and mature females between 65 pounds and 141 pounds. In the California wild, they will aggressively prey on deer, sheep, goats, coyotes, rabbits, raccoons and gophers. Attacks on people are rare, but do take place. Preying on livestock and pets may occur when a mountain lion is in a condition of severe starvation.
Attacks are most frequent during late spring and summer, when juvenile cougars leave their mothers and search for new territory. That appears to be what is happening in Wrightwood at present.
Pet owners are advised to avoid interactions between their domesticated animals and mountain lions by keeping pets on a leash while they’re outdoors, bringing pets inside at night and enclosing them in a protected space if left unattended outside.