TO RENT, BUT HOUSING ADVOCATES SAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS STILL A CHALLENGE. LASSEN COUNTY IS DECLARING MOUNTAIN LIONS AN IMMINENT PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT. IT’S ALL IN RESPONSE TO MONTHS OF WHAT THEY CALL BOLD ENCOUNTERS. PEOPLE REPORTED MULTIPLE SIGHTINGS SINCE LAST SUMMER, INCLUDING THEM COMING CLOSE TO PEOPLE, PETS AND HOMES. ONE FAMILY RECENTLY CAPTURED VIDEO OF UP TO FIVE NEAR THEIR FRONT DOOR. FIVE OF THEM. WOW. OFFICIALS SAY THE ANIMALS APPEAR UNUSUALLY COMFORTABLE AROUND HUMANS AND AREN’T BEING SCARED OFF BY LIGHTS, CAMERAS OR LOUD NOISES. A MOUNTAIN LION ATTACKS ON PEOPLE ARE RARE IN CALIFORNIA.
Lassen County declares mountain lions a public safety threat
Mountain lions declared an imminent public safety threat after months of bold encounters near homes, people, and pets.
Updated: 9:13 AM PDT May 18, 2026
Lassen County has declared mountain lions an “imminent public safety threat” following months of bold encounters with the animals. Residents have reported multiple sightings since last summer, including mountain lions coming close to people, pets, and homes. One family recently captured video showing up to five mountain lions near their front door. Officials said the animals appear unusually comfortable around humans and are not being scared off by lights, cameras, or loud noises. While mountain lion attacks on people are rare in California, the sheriff said officials are worried because of the growing number of them lingering near homes.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google
Lassen County has declared mountain lions an “imminent public safety threat” following months of bold encounters with the animals.
Residents have reported multiple sightings since last summer, including mountain lions coming close to people, pets, and homes. One family recently captured video showing up to five mountain lions near their front door.
Officials said the animals appear unusually comfortable around humans and are not being scared off by lights, cameras, or loud noises.
While mountain lion attacks on people are rare in California, the sheriff said officials are worried because of the growing number of them lingering near homes.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google