Kitty Cat

I left the house to go running about 11:30 this morning.

On my way back I heard lots of sirens and a helicopter flew over.

Gloria came home with news about a mountain lion having been spotted not far from where I was running.

From the online version of the San Francisco Chronicle:

1:48 p.m. -- Palo Alto Police Detective Kara Apple confirmed this afternoon that police shot and killed a mountain lion in a residential neighborhood because of the danger it posed to the public.

Apple said the lion was spotted in the area of Walnut Drive and Walter Hays Way and leaped into the backyard of a residence where a dog began "freaking out'' and spooked the lion into the front yard and up a tree -- right next to one of the Palo Alto police officers who responded to the sighting.

After a conference with the Department of Fish and Game and local animal control officers, Apple said the OK was given to shoot the animal.

No other injuries were reported and the lion is being taken away from the scene. Details on where it is being taken, its weight and other information will be made available in a news release Apple plans to send out this afternoon.

I wasn't surprised they killed it, but it still seemed a bit extreme. Couldn't they have tranquilizer-darted it or something?

Palo Alto Online news story