School Still Buzzing After Unexpected Visit From Mountain Lion

Maybe the mountain lion thought she was on friendly turf when she ran through the grounds of the St. Clement’s Parish School Wildcats on Tuesday morning.

Either way, this Friday’s “Wildcat Round-up Event” — as advertised on the school’s marquis — will take on a whole new meaning after the mountain lion’s visit.

Teachers and staff had to react quickly when the mountain lion ran through the school grounds on Tuesday morning.

The school’s headmaster said he’s sorry the animal had to die, but thankful his students were not hurt.

“I had just walked out this door,” St. Clement’s head master, Nick Cobos, said. “(That’s when) I saw a blur come by, it surprised me. I thought at first it was a dog.”

Just about one foot away, Cobos says he quickly realized it was a mountain lion.

“It happened so quickly, I didn’t have time to react. When I saw the policeman with the firearms I became alarmed,” Cobos said.

The school was immediately put on lockdown.

“I just started yelling for the kids to be brought into the buildings,” said Cobos.

Teachers picked up the little ones and scurried to get inside.

“There was a 6th grade science class at these tables, there were some other children in the playground … the church’s daycare,” said Cobos.

No one was injured.

“It would have been a bad situation had the kids been out,” said Cobos.

The feline roamed away from the school only to get trapped at the H&H carwash.

“I felt that this mountain lion was very much afraid, he was scared and he was trying to find his way out,” said Cobos. “I felt bad that the cat had to lose its life, but I do feel that the police made the right choice, made the right decision. He was coming back over that fence and if he had gotten back over, no telling what would have happened after that.”