By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. (May 15, 2025) —
CAMPTONVILLE, Calif. (AP) — A mountain lion was euthanized Wednesday in Yuba County after it killed four domestic goats on the property of an in-home daycare near Camptonville Elementary School, authorities said.
The Yuba County Sheriff’s Office reported that on May 12, a mountain lion entered a residential property on the 15000 block of Cleveland Avenue in Camptonville, resulting in the death of four goats. The property operates an in-home daycare and is situated near Camptonville Elementary School.
Initial attempts by the homeowner to deter the animal were unsuccessful. Given the proximity to children and the potential threat to public safety, the Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services.
On May 14, the mountain lion was again observed on Cleveland Avenue, where community members attempted to haze the animal without success. USDA personnel and Yuba County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the scene, located the mountain lion, and, due to the ongoing risk to public safety, the animal was euthanized.
This incident follows a fatal mountain lion attack in El Dorado County in March 2024, where 21-year-old Taylen Brooks was killed and his 18-year-old brother, Wyatt, was severely injured while searching for deer antlers near Georgetown. The attack marked the first fatal mountain lion incident in California in two decades.
In response to that attack, the Brooks family has advocated for legislative changes to prevent future incidents. Senate Bill 818, also known as
proposes allowing the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to use hounds for proactive hazing of mountain lions over a five-year period.
Residents are reminded to report any dangerous wildlife sightings or incidents to the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office and to exercise caution in areas where wildlife may be present.
For more information on mountain lion safety and prevention measures, visit the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website at wildlife.ca.gov.
