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INDEX-TRIBUNE STAFF REPORT

A resident of Fourth Street East in Sonoma spotted a mountain lion Monday morning near the intersection of Fourth Street East and Brazil Street. The resident told the Sonoma Police Department that she spotted the lion on the old Martelli property just north of the home of Sonoma vintner Don Sebastiani at about 10:45 a.m. She was in her garage approximately a half block from the property and saw a large animal of some sort cross the street and enter the Martelli property. She said that she thought it might have been a coyote. Coyotes have been sighted there before.

But as she approached the area where the animal entered the lot, she saw that it was a large lion and it had turned and was heading back toward her from a distance of about 20 feet.  She retreated slowly and called the police. She did not see where the lion went, nor did her husband, who went back to look.

The Martelli property is a residential parcel that includes a vacant house and large yard overgrown with brush. Many local residents who walk their dogs along Fourth Street East and Brazil streets see deer on or near the property.

Coyotes and wild turkeys are also residents of that area where the foothills hit the Sonoma city limits.

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