A California resident grossly miscalculated the situation by mistaking a large domestic cat for a mountain lion.
In a March 26 Facebook post, the South San Francisco Police Department said they were called to a residential area in reference to a possible cougar sighting.
“That’s a big cat!” the post began. “This morning, a South San Francisco resident reported seeing a mountain lion through a Ring camera in the 200 block of Mansfield Drive just after 7 a.m..”
Authorities rushed to the scene to dispose of this potentially dangerous creature, but luckily they were unable to find it.
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South San Francisco Police reported a large cat was mistaken for a cougar. (South San Francisco Police Department)
“Officers searched the scene but were unable to locate the hairy man and there were no additional sightings,” the department said in a statement.
In an update, officers said they were “pleased to report there is no potential threat to the neighborhood.”
Nevertheless, authorities advised residents on what to do if they see a live mountain lion.
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California mountain lion. (nps.gov)
“Out of an abundance of caution, we wanted to share some tips on what to do if you encounter these individuals or wildlife in your neighborhood,” the department explained.
“If you encounter a mountain lion, make your presence known. Make noise, make yourself appear bigger, and back away slowly.”
Police are also asking residents not to leave pet food outside as this could attract mountain lions to the suburbs.
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“If you have an encounter or incident with a mountain lion, please report it to your local police department, local ranger district, or Fish and Wildlife office,” the post adds.
The South San Francisco Police Department posted a humorous post about the incident on March 27th. (Google Maps)
“We would like to remind residents to avoid mountain lions. Even if you see one from a distance, you should be on alert.”
People in the comments section of the Facebook post were thrilled by the news.
“If that’s what she thinks of mountain lions, I don’t want to see what she thinks of my cat!” one person wrote.
“I think they look like big feet,” another joked.
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A file photo shows a mountain lion photographed in November 2014 in the Griffith Park area near downtown Los Angeles. (U.S. National Park Service, via AP, File)
Fox News Digital has reached out to the South San Francisco Police Department for comment. No further details were available.
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