Sierra Nevada Foothills Carnivore Sightings Map
Track Sierra Nevada Foothill mountain lion & bear sightings with our interactive Google Map, updated daily from verified community reports. Marie Summers and Haley Molzahn maintain this citizen-science tool to highlight activity hotspots and promote safe coexistence in the Sierra Nevada Foothills.
The map is updated daily to keep residents informed on lion and bear activity. Help us keep this map going for the community.
What Counts as a Sighting?
We include various types of verified evidence on the map:
- Direct sightings in person
- Captures on remote cameras (trail cams, security/Wi-Fi cameras)
- Vocalizations you hear
- Physical signs like scat or tracks
- Depredation events (successful or attempted loss of pets/livestock)
- Deceased mountain lions (vehicle strikes, depredation permits, or unknown causes)
Every pin represents confirmed activity to help residents stay aware.
Don’t see activity in your area despite having lion sightings? We may just not know! Please use our sighting form to report any activity.
How to Use the Interactive Map
Google Maps powers this tool, so you can customize and search easily:
- Check the legend if pins seem fewer—previous years may be toggled off (you’re currently viewing 2026 sightings only).
- Search keywords directly in Google Maps to filter results. Examples include:
- FIRSTHAND – Shows in-person sightings
- JANUARY (or any month) – Displays sightings from that month
- DAYTIME – Filters daytime events
- CAMERA – Shows trail/security camera captures
Look inside each pin’s description for additional keywords (always in ALL CAPS).
Important Notes
We create this map for educational purposes only. While we continue improving individual lion identification, the current view helps reveal high-activity areas and regions with more depredation events.
© 2025 Marie Summers at Carnivore Project. All rights reserved.
This sightings map serves educational and public awareness purposes only. Screenshots, reproductions, or any use of the map’s content require prior written permission from the Carnivore Project. Please contact us through our contact form to request permission. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Attribution to Google Maps is required for any permitted use, per Google’s Terms of Service.