Mountain lions have been inhabiting the surrounding mountains in the bay area for decades and are a valued asset in keeping deer populations down and keeping the eco-system balanced. They rarely come into residential areas and are mostly nocturnal. The school near my house, which borders a canyon know to have a pair of lions, has been having mountain lion sightings and a kill discovered on the field. When a lion was spotted lying down in the bushes on the opposite side of an 8 foot fence, the administration had the school locked down, keeping the kids in their classrooms, and called the cops and firemen to search for it. They thought that the cats were going to hop the fence surrounding the school and attack kids while they walked to class or during recess. This is totally ridiculous and I feel that if someone with expert knowledge on big cat behaviors came and actually de-bunked all the myths and educated them on their behaviors, what to do if faced with one, and the mountain lion's temperment, that the admins wouldn't be responsible for the possible killing of these gorgeous creatures out of blind fear. The school is Ralston Middle School in Belmont. Any help ASAP would be greatly appreciated. 