Recent Malibu Campus Mountain Lion Sightings Update #3

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We want to keep the Malibu campus community informed.  Since last week, there have been several additional unconfirmed mountain lion sightings at locations including Seaver Academic Complex, Towers, the School of Law, and near Thornton Administrative Center.

We continue to work closely with staff from the National Parks Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to assess the situation. To date, neither organization characterizes any of the mountain lion’s behavior as aggressive, therefore they indicate there is no threat to the safety of the University community. The University is continuing to follow this matter, and you should still remain alert and cautious.

We invite you to attend an informational session on mountain lions, their habitat and behaviors, and best practices for safety. Rebecca Barboza, a Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist, will present and be available for a question and answer period.  University administration and public safety officials will also be available to comment.

This session will be held for Pepperdine students, faculty, and staff on Friday, February 10, 2017 at 2pm in the Fireside Room.

Please remember:

  • Do not hike, bike, or jog alone, especially from dusk until dawn when mountain lions are most active.
  • Remember Public Safety security escorts are available on the Malibu campus 24/7 by calling Public Safety Dispatch at (310) 506-4442.
  • If you see a mountain lion on or near the Malibu campus, please report the incident to the Department of Public Safety at (310) 506-4441.
    • If safe to do so, please take a picture and/or video and send it to Public Safety via the LiveSafe app.

As a reminder, if you encounter a mountain lion:

  • Respect the animal.
  • Maintain eye contact and move away slowly.
  • Do NOT run. Running will trigger the mountain lion’s instinct to chase you.
  • Appear as large, loud, and powerful as possible.
  • If there are small children or pets present, pick them up immediately. Additionally do NOT leave them unattended outside.
  • Do not approach the mountain lion, leave space for the cat to escape.
  • In the unlikely event of an attack, fight back. Do not fall to the ground or roll into the fetal position.

This entry was posted in Malibu.