Latest news with #SantaCruzCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Several mountain lion sightings reported in Santa Cruz County neighborhoods
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KRON) — Mountain lions have been spotted strolling through Santa Cruz County neighborhoods this May. Residents living in Aptos, Capitola, and Watsonville all reported cougar sightings. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office posted a video on Facebook showing a mountain lion exploring one Aptos resident's garden on May 27. 'There have been multiple recent sightings of mountain lions in neighborhoods across our county. This big kitty was spotted the morning of May 27th in an Aptos neighborhood,' the sheriff's office wrote. The curious cougar had a tracking collar around its neck. The Santa Cruz Puma Project, a partnership between University of California Santa Cruz and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, uses telemetry collars on mountain lions to collect continuous location data for research. SCPP's Puma Tracker displays real-time satellite tracking data so the public can remotely 'explore the lives of these amazing animals.' The sheriff's office said anyone who encounters a mountain lion in-person should try to look big, be loud, and back away slowly to avoid conflict. SCCSO wrote, 'Do not run. Running may trigger its instinct to chase. Raise your arms. Open your jacket. Stand tall and back away slowly while facing the lion. Use a loud, calm voice to assert dominance. Pick up small children.' Small children and pets should not be left alone outside, especially at night, deputies said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
25-03-2025
- Miami Herald
Remains found in riverbed 3 decades ago now ID'd as missing teen, California cops say
Three decades after remains were found in a California riverbed, they've been identified as a missing New York teenager, deputies say. Through DNA testing, the remains found in 1995 were identified as 13-year-old Laura O'Malley of Queens, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office said in a March 25 Facebook post. After the skeletal remains were found 'in a riverbed off Highway 129 east of Rogge Lane' on March 22, 1995, DNA testing determined they belonged to a female, deputies said. Decades later, deputies said they examined the case and sent samples for forensic testing in 2019. Carbon dating showed the female was likely born in the 1960s and died sometime between 1977 and 1984, deputies said. Then, starting in 2022, deputies said they set their sights on genetic genealogy in hopes of identifying the remains and partnered with Othram Inc. Genetic genealogy uses DNA testing coupled with 'traditional genealogical methods' to create 'family history profiles,' according to the Library of Congress. With genealogical DNA testing, researchers can determine if and how people are biologically related. At Othram, scientists created a 'comprehensive DNA profile' for the female that was used to create additional leads, the company said in a news release These leads led investigators to potential relatives of the unknown female, who was ultimately identified as O'Malley, Othram said. O'Malley was reported missing from New York in August 1975, deputies said, adding that it's not clear when or why she ended up in California. Her death is still under investigation, deputies said. Anyone with information is asked to contact deputies at 831-471-1121.
CBS News
13-02-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Santa Cruz County Sheriff issues evacuation warning as storm arrives
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office placed several unincorporated low-lying areas under an evacuation warning Wednesday due to heavy rains and likely flooding from the arriving storm. In a post to the sheriff's office Facebook page at 5 p.m. Wednesday evening, authorities said the excessive rainfall starting Wednesday night and the expected rise of the San Lorenzo River placed the below zones under an evacuation warning: FEL-E008 Felton Grove area FEL-E012 Beth Drive area CRZ-E081 Paradise Park area Residents can find their zone at: The heavy rains and run-off were expected to start Wednesday night and continue through Friday morning, the sheriff's office said. Rain totals upwards of eight inches are possible in the Santa Cruz Mountains, according to the National Weather Service Bay Area office. "The safety of the community is of the utmost importance to the Sheriff's Office, and we appreciate your cooperation during this potentially dangerous weather system," the post read. Officials said area road closures can be monitored at: The incoming storm triggered multiple warnings and advisories. There was some light overnight rain Tuesday evening, but the more potent system that arrived Wednesday night is expected to bring increased chances of flooding and damaging winds. Atmospheric river will impact the Bay Area and Central Coast in several different ways: excessive rainfall, possible flooding in areas, and strong and damaging winds. Here are some graphics that highlight the major hazards in the area as well as the rainfall amounts. #CAwx — NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) February 12, 2025 A flood watch goes into effect at 10 p.m. for Marin, Sonoma, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties from Wednesday evening through Saturday evening. The flood watch also includes most of the Central Coast and parts of the Central Valley until Friday evening. Lake and Mendocino counties were also included in the flood watch until Thursday afternoon. There is also a flood warning for the Yolo Bypass area bordering Solano and Yolo counties until early Friday morning. In addition, the Weather Service issued a high-wind watch from Wednesday evening through Friday morning for the interior mountains and valleys of the North Bay, the East Bay and San Francisco Bay shoreline, the Peninsula coast, the Santa Clara Valley and eastern hills, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Monterey Bay, Big Sur, and the Central Coast. Damaging winds with gusts of up to 40-45 mph could down trees, snap power lines, and blow loose debris, and the Weather Service said widespread power outages are possible. There is also a slight risk for thunderstorms Thursday afternoon before the storm begins to clear up with showers lingering into Friday morning. On the coast, the Weather Service also issued a high surf warning for dangerously large breaking waves of 20 to 30 feet and up to 45 feet for the highest waves on west-facing beaches. Beaches not facing west will still see 15- to 20-foot waves and up to 30-foot peak waves. Large breaking waves of 20 to 30 feet, up to 45 ft, are expected Thursday afternoon through Saturday at all Pacific Coast beaches. Stay off of jetties, piers, and rocks, keep pets on a leash and away from the water, and never turn your back on the ocean! #CAwx — NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) February 11, 2025 The warning was in effect from 3 p.m. Thursday to 3 a.m. Saturday along the entire coastline from Point Reyes National Seashore to the southern Monterey Bay and Big Sur coast. The Weather Service warned that breaking waves can sweep people off jetties and docks, and life-threatening swimming conditions and significant beach erosion are expected. For the duration of the storm, while the North Bay will see rainfall totals in the 2-4 inch range, the greater Bay Area will see a range of 1.5 to 3 inches of rain, 4 to 6 inches and possibly up to 8 inches in the Santa Cruz Mtns, 2 to 3 inches across the Central Coast counties, and 3-6 inches along the Big Sur coast.
