GUSTINE — A week after a mountain lion was captured on home security cameras moving through a Gustine neighborhood, state wildlife officials say the footage remains the only confirmed sighting despite several unverified reports circulating on social media.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has been working with the Gustine Police Department to evaluate the March 22 sighting on Hartley Court, where two home cameras recorded what appeared to be an adult mountain lion — and possibly a juvenile — walking through residential yards around 3 a.m. CDFW Wildlife Management Unit Biologist Chinnu Xiong, who oversees Merced and western Stanislaus counties, said the department requires clear, firsthand evidence before verifying a sighting. He said the Ring camera footage from that morning remains the strongest documentation.
“Typically, I like to have first-hand reports from witnesses and, if possible, clear photos or videos with time and date stamps,” Xiong said. “The best evidence is still from the surveillance video on Sunday.”
Xiong said the incident remains classified as a “green” sighting, meaning the animal has not shown aggressive or threatening behavior. While additional sightings have been mentioned online in the days since, none have met the threshold for confirmation. CDFW has conducted patrols in the area, remains in contact with Gustine police, and plans to have a warden available at a community event next Tuesday to answer questions. No physical evidence of the lion has been found since the initial report.
Some residents have asked whether the lion could be trapped and relocated, but Xiong said such action requires approval from CDFW’s Response Guidance Team, a group of senior officials who evaluate risk and determine whether relocation is appropriate. He said the current situation does not meet those criteria. He also noted that residents concerned about legal restrictions should know that defending themselves or their animals is allowed when there is an immediate threat, but not simply because the animal is seen passing through.
Xiong said the lion’s behavior in the video appears consistent with an animal exploring new territory. Rumors of a cub have circulated, but no photos or videos have surfaced. He cautioned residents not to approach a cub if one is seen, explaining that mothers often stash their young while they hunt and typically avoid human activity when caring for offspring.
While mountain lions are more commonly associated with foothill and coastal habitats, Xiong said sightings in the Central Valley are not unusual. He said the region typically sees one or two reports a year, though the location varies. Before industrial agriculture reshaped the valley, lions likely moved across the valley floor more frequently. Today, highways, canals and development create significant barriers, but natural travel corridors still exist, including dry canal beds, canal roads, greenbelt areas and riverbanks. Xiong said the Gustine lion may have come from federal wildlife refuges, state wildlife areas or duck clubs to the east and south of town, where other sightings have been reported in recent years.
CDFW has received no reports of livestock predation connected to this lion, and no depredation incidents have been confirmed. Still, Xiong urged ranchers and backyard animal owners to take precautions by penning animals at night, installing motion‑activated lights and, in some cases, leaving a radio playing near livestock. He also advised pet owners to bring dogs and cats indoors at night until the situation stabilizes.
The March 22 sighting startled residents on Hartley Court, where two separate home cameras captured the lion moving through the neighborhood. One video showed a lion crossing a driveway; another showed a larger animal pacing along a fence line minutes later. The footage was reported to Gustine police and CDFW. Police Chief Ruben Chavez urged residents to keep their distance and avoid attempting to photograph or interact with the animal.
“If anyone sees the mountain lion(s) they should stay away and report it to the police department,” Chavez said at the time. “Don’t try and touch it and definitely don’t do anything to antagonize it. Don’t try and take a selfie with it.”
Jorge Rivera, whose Ring camera captured the clearest footage, said he never expected to see a mountain lion in Gustine. His family’s rottweiler, who normally sleeps outside, did not react to the animal’s presence — a detail Rivera found unsettling. The dog is now being kept indoors, and several neighbors who leave for work before dawn said they plan to be more cautious.
With only one confirmed sighting and no evidence of aggressive behavior, wildlife officials say the lion may have already moved on. Still, they encourage residents to remain alert, secure pets at night and report any new sightings to local authorities. Xiong said the department will continue monitoring the situation.
