A sixth-grade student spotted two large mountain lions strolling by Buena Vista Middle School in Salinas Tuesday.
Sixth-grader Taylor Sollecito snapped a photograph of the cougars at 3:30 p.m. while waiting to be picked up from school near River Road. The cougars were not acting aggressively.
Calif. Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said large wild animals have been venturing into neighborhoods and other populated areas along the Central Coast more frequently than usual because they are looking for water.
Drinking water has become hard for wild animals to find during California's severe drought. Winter rainstorms usually refill rivers and lakes in the mountains, but rain has yet to fall this winter, forcing native California animals to expand their habitat ranges.
More than half of California is a mountain lion habitat, and they are generally found wherever deer live.
Mountain lions are solitary and elusive, and their nature is to avoid humans. If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms; throw rocks or other objects.