A Surprising Encounter with a Mountain Lion
A family in La Verne recently experienced an unusual and unexpected encounter when a mountain lion entered their home through the front door. The incident has sparked concern among local residents, who are now being urged to remain vigilant for any signs of wildlife roaming the area.
The event took place on a Saturday afternoon when Jeff Tenney was in the kitchen of his mother’s house. He described the moment he became aware of the large presence nearby. “Out of the corner of my eye, I hear and see and feel the large presence,” he said. The encounter lasted only a second, but it was enough for Tenney to realize that a wild animal was in the house.
Tenney peeked around the corner of the dining room and locked eyes with the mountain lion. “I knew it was a lion,” he recalled. The big cat wasn’t interested in staying inside and quickly made its way out the back door. “As soon as it saw me, it went straight through the screen here, out the back. It was a loud, loud noise, boom! And into the pool and over the fence,” he said.
During its escape, the mountain lion even popped a pool float, adding to the dramatic nature of the event. After the lion left, Tenney rushed to the front of the house to check on his 13-year-old dog, Bandit, who was sunbathing in the front yard. Despite the close proximity of the mountain lion, Bandit remained unaware of the encounter. “He was napping right here in the front lawn, so he was snoozing. By the time I came out here, he was up and kind of walking around, like he caught a scent or something, but never saw the mountain lion,” Tenney explained.
The house where the incident occurred is located in the middle of the Rancho La Verne neighborhood, which is not near the foothills or deep in the woods. This makes the encounter even more surprising and concerning for local residents. To raise awareness, Tenney shared his story and the video footage captured by the Ring camera.
“We have the Ring camera footage to notify the community. There were lots of kids running around that day, lots of parties going on, so we wanted to make sure we have that footage and alert the community,” he said.
The front door was open at the time of the incident because it was usually left open for Bandit to come and go freely. However, this will likely change in the near future. So far, no other neighbors have reported seeing the mountain lion, but the incident serves as a reminder to stay alert and cautious in the area.
Key Details from the Incident
- Location: Rancho La Verne neighborhood, La Verne
- Time of Event: Saturday afternoon
- Animal Involved: Mountain lion
- Homeowner: Jeff Tenney
- Dog Involved: Bandit, a 13-year-old dog
- Camera Footage: Ring camera captured the event
- Community Response: Alerting neighbors about potential wildlife sightings
This unusual encounter highlights the importance of remaining aware of the natural environment, even in urban settings. Residents are encouraged to keep their pets indoors, secure their homes, and report any sightings of wildlife to local authorities.
