Mountain Lion Sighting On the Malibu Campus

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Public Safety officers spotted a mountain lion near the Seaver Drive booth at approximately 11:30 PM last night. The sighting was reported to the local sheriff’s department, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the National Park Service (NPS). The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control removed a deer carcass, which was likely the prey of the mountain lion, and NPS officials determined the mountain lion does not represent a threat to the campus community. 

Pepperdine officials share confirmed mountain lion sightings near the Malibu campus to ensure the University community is informed of, but not alarmed by, the wildlife with whom we share the Santa Monica Mountains.  

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 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.