A big roar rattled residents in Rochester and hit a bit too close to home.
A potential mountain lion sighting in an upstate New York city led to a shelter-in-place order this week, causing concern among local officials and unsettling residents.
Curtis Jones encountered the formidable cat — last officially recorded in New York state in 2011 — while walking down the street on Wednesday.
“And it said ‘rawr,’ and I just kept walking,” he told the ABC affiliate in Rochester.
“I seen it, seeing me, see it, so in my head I’m like, ‘Nah, I got to go man, I’m out’. … I’ve never seen nothing like that … only on movies.”
Rochester police became aware of a social media video appearing to depict the large feline. They also received numerous calls from anxious residents who believed they had seen the animal.
A shelter-in-place order was promptly issued — but later lifted since police couldn’t verify the large lion.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office helped the investigation by flying an aerial drone around the area, but to no avail.
The Seneca Park Zoo, which is located in Rochester, said none of its animals had escaped.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation was also probing, and in a statement to the ABC affiliate, said based on doorbell video and the measurements taken at the site, the animal does appear to possibly be a mountain lion.
“DEC is actively investigating reports of a big cat in a Rochester neighborhood and determining if there is evidence to validate the images,” the DEC said in its statement. “Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. DEC reminds the public to treat an encounter like any other with a large, potentially dangerous wild animal or unfamiliar dog.
“Keep a safe distance, and slowly back away. Only take photos from a very safe distance and immediately report it to law enforcement.”
