http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/school_53681___article.html/lion_kelly.html
Lion rattles school
Students spot animal near Challenge
By Andrea Koskey/Appeal-Democrat
September 7, 2007 - 4:39PM
A Yuba County foothills school should be back to normal today after two students spotted a mountain lion, sparking a modified lockdown Thursday.
While riding their horses to Yuba Feather School in Challenge, Lindsey Hone and Baylie Hughes spotted the animal on a path they take to get to class.
“It was 5 feet away from us,” said Hone, 15. “The horse started spooking, but the lion just looked at us and jumped up in to the bushes and up the hill and then it looked back at us.”
Hone said she was scared because she’d never seen a lion before. She also was concerned about keeping the horses under control.
“I didn’t want it to run and scare the mountain lion,” she said. “I was surprised to see it. We ride there a lot and we never saw any wildlife before.”
Hone estimated the trail, along Indian Road, was only a half-mile from the school.
Principal Tim Kelly of the 250-student school said two other students saw the animal during a morning recess, prompting officials to take precautionary measures and notify government officials.
“We are doing everything we can to make sure it is safe for the kids and adults,” Kelly said. “Agencies are assessing the situation and doing everything they can to protect the children.”
The Yuba County Sheriff’s Department, the Department of Fish and Game and Wildlife Services were called.
Nate Stebbins, a Fish and Game warden, said he saw animal tracks, but was unable to locate the mountain lion.
“(The students) all described the animal pretty well,” Stebbins said. “We attempted to locate the cat, but we were unsuccessful.”
As part of the modified lockdown, students remained in class. Adults accompanied the children on restroom breaks and to get lunch. All other activity, however, was suspended.
“We canceled all after-school sports and, the kids did eat lunch in the classroom,” Kelly said. “Parents were notified by phone, and we are sending letters home with children.”
Kelly said this is not the first time a mountain lion has been spotted by students.
“We had a similar situation about four years ago,” he said. “We took very similar precautions then.”
Kelly said many of the pupils of the K-8 and 9-12 school live in the area and are familiar with the wildlife.
School will be held as normal today, Kelly said.
Trappers will also return to the area for further analysis, Stebbins said. Although the animal is a concern, it does not pose a threat.
“Challenge is in their habitat,” Stebbins said. “Our main concern is public safety. It is unusual to have two sightings.”
Appeal-Democrat reporter Andrea Koskey can be reached at 749-4709 or at akoskey@appealdemocrat.com
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This school is about 8 miles down the road from me. It's right on the edge of the Plumas National Forest, in a heavily wooded area. It's not unusual for residents up here to spot the lion once or twice a year. Most of the time, people don't even report it to Fish and Game, which could be why Stebbins calls it unusual.
Of interest probably only to locals are the mistakes in the story: Yuba Feather School is a K-8. There is NO high school up here. And the road in question is Indiana Ranch Road, not Indian Road.
Lion rattles school
Students spot animal near Challenge
By Andrea Koskey/Appeal-Democrat
September 7, 2007 - 4:39PM
A Yuba County foothills school should be back to normal today after two students spotted a mountain lion, sparking a modified lockdown Thursday.
While riding their horses to Yuba Feather School in Challenge, Lindsey Hone and Baylie Hughes spotted the animal on a path they take to get to class.
“It was 5 feet away from us,” said Hone, 15. “The horse started spooking, but the lion just looked at us and jumped up in to the bushes and up the hill and then it looked back at us.”
Hone said she was scared because she’d never seen a lion before. She also was concerned about keeping the horses under control.
“I didn’t want it to run and scare the mountain lion,” she said. “I was surprised to see it. We ride there a lot and we never saw any wildlife before.”
Hone estimated the trail, along Indian Road, was only a half-mile from the school.
Principal Tim Kelly of the 250-student school said two other students saw the animal during a morning recess, prompting officials to take precautionary measures and notify government officials.
“We are doing everything we can to make sure it is safe for the kids and adults,” Kelly said. “Agencies are assessing the situation and doing everything they can to protect the children.”
The Yuba County Sheriff’s Department, the Department of Fish and Game and Wildlife Services were called.
Nate Stebbins, a Fish and Game warden, said he saw animal tracks, but was unable to locate the mountain lion.
“(The students) all described the animal pretty well,” Stebbins said. “We attempted to locate the cat, but we were unsuccessful.”
As part of the modified lockdown, students remained in class. Adults accompanied the children on restroom breaks and to get lunch. All other activity, however, was suspended.
“We canceled all after-school sports and, the kids did eat lunch in the classroom,” Kelly said. “Parents were notified by phone, and we are sending letters home with children.”
Kelly said this is not the first time a mountain lion has been spotted by students.
“We had a similar situation about four years ago,” he said. “We took very similar precautions then.”
Kelly said many of the pupils of the K-8 and 9-12 school live in the area and are familiar with the wildlife.
School will be held as normal today, Kelly said.
Trappers will also return to the area for further analysis, Stebbins said. Although the animal is a concern, it does not pose a threat.
“Challenge is in their habitat,” Stebbins said. “Our main concern is public safety. It is unusual to have two sightings.”
Appeal-Democrat reporter Andrea Koskey can be reached at 749-4709 or at akoskey@appealdemocrat.com
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This school is about 8 miles down the road from me. It's right on the edge of the Plumas National Forest, in a heavily wooded area. It's not unusual for residents up here to spot the lion once or twice a year. Most of the time, people don't even report it to Fish and Game, which could be why Stebbins calls it unusual.
Of interest probably only to locals are the mistakes in the story: Yuba Feather School is a K-8. There is NO high school up here. And the road in question is Indiana Ranch Road, not Indian Road.
