Big Cat Sighted in Mission Viejo

On Nov. 19, an article was posted on the city’s web site after landscape workers reported seeing a mountain lion in north Mission Viejo on Nov. 15. A work crew was maintaining a slope in Mission Viejo Environmental Association. MVEA is the city’s largest homeowner association, with 2,982 homes.

According to MVEA, workers saw the cat in the vicinity of Bacalar, which is west of Marguerite Parkway and south of La Barca.

According to an exchange of emails between the homeowner association, the landscape foreman and city officials, the sighting was reported to the OC Sheriff’s Dept. (Mission Viejo Police Services office). The response from the police was that no crime had been committed, and no report or follow-up would occur since it was not an emergency. Director of Public Services Keith Rattay also participated in the email exchange, mentioning that Animal Services would contact the homeowner association.

Residents who read the email exchange thought it was odd, considering taxpayers pay OCSD more than $1 million a month for such things as a safe environment. No one from the city or OCSD followed up by notifying neighbors in the vicinity where the cat was seen. A discussion followed as to whether the cat (three feet in length and two feet tall) was a mountain lion or a bobcat.

A homeowner reacted to the email exchange: “I laughed out loud when I read that OCSD wouldn’t respond because no crime had been committed. OCSD is famous for not wanting to write a report, which they might have to do if they send out an officer. The hilarious statement from Rattay is his mention of Animal Services. Isn’t that the department that was seen dumping cats from the shelter on Jeronimo a couple years ago? Forget public service, let’s build another Rose Parade float and plan the next festival.”

The sighting was reported to the California Department of Fish and Game, which is the agency responsible for managing the state’s wildlife.