Campus Homeowner’s Dog Attacked on Malibu Campus 

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A resident of the University’s on-campus faculty/staff condos at Baxter Drive reported their dog was attacked and taken from their backyard by an animal predator at an unknown time in the early hours of Friday, February 4, 2022. We have reason to believe the predator was a mountain lion. 

The University is taking this seriously and has reported the incident to the local sheriff’s department, the National Park Service, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, advocating for the safety of our community. The University has worked for years with and continues to press these agencies to address the safety of the community with the presence of mountain lions on the Malibu campus. 

Pepperdine is sharing this incident to ensure the University community is informed, so community members may remain vigilant, especially with regard to pets and small children. Pepperdine’s Malibu campus sits in the Santa Monica Mountains, which is home to various forms of wildlife. Rarely do interactions result in contact between the wildlife and humans or domestic pets.

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.