The Arizona Game and Fish Department and Gilbert police have investigated reported sightings of a mountain lion roaming through the Trilogy community between Recker and Power roads, but authorities were unable to locate the animal.
At least four residents have reported sightings of what they believed was a mountain lion walking through the neighborhood between May 31 and June 21, according to information from Gilbert police.
The first sighting was reported about 7 a.m. on May 31 in the back yard of a home in the 4100 block of East Nightingale Lane. Another sighting was reported about 3:30 p.m. Monday in the back yard of a home in the 4600 block of East Blue Spruce, slightly more than two hours before it was seen again running toward a green belt near the home.
One resident said it was about three feet tall, had a long tail and was brownish red in color, according to Sgt. William Balafas, a Gilbert police spokesman.
There have been no reports of aggression toward humans or pets. Gilbert police responded to the calls, but could not locate the animal.
Sightings of a mountain lion in the neighborhood are rare, Balafas said, but mountain lions are known to live in the San Tan Mountains, which are about 30 miles to the southwest of the neighborhood, according to Randy Babb, a biologist for Arizona Game and Fish.
"It's a little premature to say where it came from," Babb said. "At this point, we're not sure if it is a mountain lion. A lot of these calls end up being something else. We need a good look at the animal, possibly a track, its hair or a picture of it."
Babb said that it is rare to see a mountain lion in an urban setting or in a residential neighborhood, but urged residents if they see one, not to harrass it, chase it or try to get close to the mountain lion.
Residents are urged to call 911 if they see what they believe is a mountain lion and are advised to keep pets inside if one is sighted.
hotingilbert posted at 4:54 pm on Wed, Jun 23, 2010.
Big deal, cougars are spotted in Scottsdale all the time.
AZMomma posted at 9:50 am on Thu, Jun 24, 2010.
Nat Geo(Wild Kingdom): Mountain Lion are now the most widely disbursed large land mammal in the USA.
This cat has been urbanized; is eating well within a territory full of residents, joggers, dog-walkers and kids.
Do not want to see it killed, but it is NOT within its own natural habitat. This area has been irrigated farm land for over 100 years.
DrunkenMonkey posted at 9:59 am on Thu, Jun 24, 2010.
Guess they didn't like my sarcasm... Good edit there Mike..., sorry about the "dumb-@ss" comment...
Guess you blocked that out after you deleted my post, huh? Good job, I'll never use it again.