MOUNTAIN LION KILLS PETS AND MINIATURE HORSE IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

CORRAL DE TIERRA, Calif. (Dec. 30, 2025) — A mountain lion has been responsible for a series of attacks on domestic animals in central California, killing pets and a miniature horse in incidents reported across Monterey and Santa Clara counties.

Residents in Monterey County’s Corral de Tierra area said the animal has been targeting dogs, goats and livestock, often approaching homes, barns and porches during nighttime hours.

“The Sunday before Christmas, about 12:30, I could hear rustling on our porch. Our family dog was taken off our porch,” said resident Michael Antle. “The following night, the lion came for our goat and took it to the same spot.”

Longtime resident Mark Farr said the frequency of the attacks is unlike anything he has seen in more than three decades.

“To see it happen daily for a week straight at several different properties — it’s the first I’ve seen of this,” Farr said.

In Santa Clara County, Stolen Horse International, a nonprofit that tracks missing and stolen equines, confirmed a similar fatal attack involving a miniature horse named Seabiscut.

Seabiscut had been reported missing from Saratoga, California, and was listed on the organization’s website after he was last seen alive on Christmas Eve. His owner later notified Stolen Horse International that the horse had been found deceased and killed by a mountain lion.

“Well, I found my little guy, unfortunately, he’s no longer with us,” the owner said in a message to the organization. “A mountain lion attacked him, but I want to say thank you for helping spread the word.”

Stolen Horse International said the incident involving Seabiscut is not isolated. The organization also has on record a similar case from 2016 in Calabasas, California, involving a miniature horse named Marco Polo. Marco Polo, a beloved therapy horse, went missing from his facility in the Santa Monica Mountains and was later confirmed to have been attacked and killed by a mountain lion. The nonprofit said the case remains an example of how wildlife encounters can sometimes be mistaken for theft until evidence confirms a predator-related loss.

Mountain lions are a specially protected species under California law, and only the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is authorized to intervene. Officials said they are aware of the incidents and have issued non-lethal depredation permits related to attacks on pets and livestock, noting that relocation and lethal options are limited.

Stolen Horse International encourages equine owners to report missing horses promptly and to remain vigilant in areas experiencing increased wildlife activity.