<p>Yes, there are occasional sightings, but not as frequent as the rumors you heard would lead you to believe. There has not been an attack on campus in quite some time that I have heard of. The mountain lions are far more afraid of you than you are of them.</p>
<p>If you’re an idiot about it, then yes, there can be a danger. You should always exercise caution wherever you are. Our society is ever increasingly encroaching on the territory of wildlife more and more and they are coming out of the back hills and woods into well populated cities (even SF has coyotes that kill pets).</p>
<p>Just be smart. Check your email, there will be alerts there when something or someone has been sighted (campus is considered close after 8pm so there’s less risk of this). Always be aware of your surroundings. If you think you’re going to be out late, bring a flashlight. The one I carry with me doubles as a safety whistle as well. Stick to trails. If you must leave them, do so knowing where you’re going and ideally with a buddy particularly if it is after dark.</p>
<p>Above all: leave the wildlife alone. You are honestly more at risk from the deer and the raccoons than you are from the coyotes and mountain lions. Someone last year was all upset that “Bambi” tried to attack her after she tried to pet the creature. Never get between a mother and her baby… especially deer and raccoons.</p>
<p>[UC</a> Santa Cruz Police - Mountain Lion Reports](<a href=“http://police.ucsc.edu/lion3.html]UC”>http://police.ucsc.edu/lion3.html) You might find this useful. Last reported one was 2007. There’s also information on that site about how to react if one does encounter a mountain lion.</p>
<p>Just pay attention, listen, be prepared, and leave the wildlife alone. They won’t bother you unless they feel you are bothering them.</p>