ALPINE COUNTY, Calif. — A mountain lion entering a home in the Woodfords area was one of the incidents behind public-safety warnings issued by Alpine County officials in 2026. Residents and visitors should understand both what authorities reported and what those reports do not establish about current conditions.

What the county documented

In an April 9 notice, the Sheriff’s Office said it responded to a mountain lion inside a Woodfords residence. Officials reported that the animal had entered through an exterior pet door and that a dog in the home was found dead. The animal escaped into surrounding woods. California wildlife personnel were called to respond.

In a separate May 12 advisory, the county and Sheriff’s Office urged heightened vigilance following mountain lion incidents, including reported predation on domestic animals, in eastern Alpine County. The notice described mountain lions as native predators and asked people to exercise greater awareness around homes, recreation areas and livestock facilities.

What residents can do

People living near wooded or mountainous areas can check entry points that pets use, supervise animals outside and avoid approaching wildlife. If a large predator is seen, create distance rather than attempting to photograph it up close. Report situations that threaten people or animals through the appropriate wildlife or law-enforcement channel; use 911 for an immediate threat to human safety.

Because the county’s notices concern events in April and May, their publication does not establish that the same animal remains in the neighborhood today. Residents should check current information before making conclusions about an active threat.

Primary sources: Alpine County Sheriff’s Office, April 9, 2026; Alpine County public-safety notice, May 12, 2026.

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