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A large cat, suspected to be a mountain lion, was recently spotted roaming the streets of a Rochester, New York neighborhood in the wee hours of the morning. One resident detailed his experience with the feline to a local news affiliate.
The appearance produced an all-time TV segment. The man has taken on the role of neighborhood protector.
Curtis Jones saw the mountain lion while walking to a nearby intersection. He remembered watching people scatter before seeing the cat.
“I saw the people run and I saw something big just walking,” he recalled. “It said, ‘RAWWR,’ and I just kept walking. I seen it see me see it, but in my head, I’m like, ‘Nah, I gotta go. I’m out.'”
Curtis Jones details scary mountain lion sighting in Rochester, New York.
Video from a ring doorbell appeared to capture the mountain lion in that New York community. It seemed relatively comfortable walking the neighborhood sidewalks.
The police department was called in after multiple calls of reported sightings in nearby areas. A ‘shelter in place’ was ordered for residents while an investigation was underway.
It was later lifted when investigators were “unable to verify the presence of a wild animal.” Police said that no reports have been substantiated.
The cat is still on the loose!
Curtis Jones isn’t taking any chances. He won’t be surprised should the mountain lion return for another midnight stroll.
“I’m gonna keep this [baseball] bat right here, just in case,” he said. “I’m gonna protect us. I ain’t gonna let nothing happen… They ain’t find it last night. It’s still out here. It could be out here in one of these bushes or something…
“I don’t play with lions. I don’t play with tigers, bears, nothing with the wild… I don’t even do roller coasters.”
Jones isn’t a thrill seeker. He’s not going out of his way to find trouble with the mountain lion. With that being said, he’ll be on the lookout for the feline in the coming days, taking action if necessary.
The mountain lion sighting in New York has locals on edge. Curtis Jones made his plan to protect very clear in this incredible interview.