Mountain Lion Sighting On The Malibu Campus

Posted on March 18, 2024, 10:55 AM

Public Safety officers spotted a mountain lion early this morning at approximately 1:25 AM crossing Seaver Drive near the George Page Apartments. The mountain lion then headed up the hillside through the brush toward Baxter Drive. The sighting was reported to the local sheriff’s department and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The animal is not believed to represent a threat to the campus community, though community members are encouraged to follow the best practices noted below. 

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.
• Do not feed the local deer population, which are known prey for mountain lions.
• 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.

Pacific Coast Highway Reopens One Alternating Lane

Posted on March 11, 2024, 1:02 PM

Officials have reopened a single lane on Pacific Coast Highway between Big Rock and Las Flores Canyon Road. The opening allows alternating traffic – northbound and southbound – to move through the impacted area, though significant delays are expected. The California Highway Patrol expects this area of Pacific Coast Highway to remain impacted with only a single lane passable for the remainder of the week as workers clear the mudslide. 

Normal operations, including in-person classes, continue at the Malibu campus today and are expected to remain so throughout the week, despite this impact to Pacific Coast Highway.

The following represents the latest road conditions on the other routes to the Malibu campus:

• Malibu Canyon Road and Kanan Dume Road are open. This allows Pepperdine community members to use the 101 freeway and then south on either Malibu Canyon Road or Kanan Dume Road to access the Malibu campus.

• Pacific Coast Highway north of the Malibu campus between Latigo Canyon and Corral Canyon has two southbound lanes and one northbound lane open. This allows Pepperdine community members to access the Malibu Campus by taking Kanan Dume Road south from the 101 Highway to Pacific Coast Highway.
  
• Topanga Canyon Road remains closed between Grand View Drive and Pacific Coast Highway due to a rockslide.

Agencies may update conditions and closures rapidly. Please check the resources below and be prepared for changing conditions and closures with short notice.

Please plan for a potentially longer commute, since your typical route to the Malibu campus may not be available or traffic may be heavier than normal, and confirm road conditions before departing. Employees and students are encouraged to drive slowly and carefully, leave plenty of extra time for travel, and remain informed about conditions for Pepperdine’s Southern California campuses by utilizing the following resources: 

• Malibu Campus Road hotline: 310.506.ROAD (7623) 
• Emergency Information Page: emergency.pepperdine.edu 

Greater Los Angeles road conditions can be viewed online at www.sigalert.com.

Pacific Coast Highway Closed South of Campus. Malibu Campus Open

Posted on March 11, 2024, 5:49 AM

Pacific Coast Highway south of the Malibu Campus between Big Rock and Las Flores Canyon Road is closed in both directions due to a rockslide. Topanga Canyon Road is also closed between Grand View Drive and Pacific Coast Highway due to a rockslide. 

Pepperdine will continue normal operations on the Malibu campus for Monday, March 11, 2024.

The following represents the latest road conditions on the other routes to the Malibu campus:

• Malibu Canyon Road and Kanan Dume Road are open. This allows Pepperdine community members to use the 101 freeway and then south on either Malibu Canyon Road or Kanan Dume Road to access the Malibu campus.

• Pacific Coast Highway north of the Malibu campus between Latigo Canyon and Corral Canyon has two southbound lanes and one northbound lane open. This allows Pepperdine community members to access the Malibu Campus by taking Kanan Dume Road south from the 101 Highway to Pacific Coast Highway.

Agencies may update conditions and closures rapidly. Please check the resources below and be prepared for changing conditions and closures with short notice.  

With these closures, supervisors and faculty members should be mindful some community members may be running late this morning. Everyone should plan for a potentially longer commute, since your typical route to the Malibu campus may not be available or traffic may be heavier than normal, and confirm road conditions before departing. Employees and students are encouraged to drive slowly and carefully, leave plenty of extra time for travel, and remain informed about conditions for Pepperdine’s Southern California campuses by utilizing the following resources: 

• Malibu Campus Road hotline: 310.506.ROAD (7623) 
• Emergency Information Page: emergency.pepperdine.edu 

Greater Los Angeles road conditions can be viewed online at www.sigalert.com.