Several residents on Maricopa’s East Side say they’ve spotted a mountain lion roaming subdivisions near the University of Arizona’s agricultural complex, raising concern among pet owners and prompting calls to animal control.

Multiple social media posts, home video footage and a community email confirm the animal has been in the area for at least two weeks and may be responsible for at least one fatal pet attack.

Stephanie Podszus, who lives in Tortosa near the entrance tower, said the mountain lion has returned several times, usually between 2 and 4 a.m., and allegedly attacked her neighbor’s dogs. “Please be careful letting your pets out at night,” she warned in a neighborhood group post.

Brittany Braun Peru, a resident of the eastside Sorrento neighborhood, also shared a post saying a friend’s two large dogs were attacked in the area. One of the dogs was reportedly injured so badly it had to be put down.

“If this mountain lion will take on two big dogs, your kids and pets are not safe,” she wrote.

Another nearby resident, Janisha Morin, said her sister shared video of the animal from Cartenga Lane, about a block from her home in Tortosa. “I know there’s been sightings of a mountain lion/cougar/bobcat (not sure which one it is) but KEEP THE FUR BABIES INSIDE!” she urged.

Tortosa resident Meghan Bremer echoed the warnings in an email to InMaricopa‘s news desk this morning.

“It’s definitely a mountain lion,” she wrote. “It has apparently already hurt one man’s dog bad enough she had to be put down. Someone shared a security video of it on their property. They say Animal Control is on the case, but perhaps this is something more for [the Arizona Game and Fish Department].”

As of Tuesday morning, no official statements had been issued by city or state wildlife authorities regarding the sightings. However, concerned residents have reported the animal to local animal control.

Mountain lions are known to roam desert and mountain regions but are rarely spotted near densely populated subdivisions. AZGFD advises residents who encounter a mountain lion to not run, make themselves appear larger and slowly back away while maintaining eye contact.

Residents in Tortosa and surrounding neighborhoods are urged to keep pets indoors at night and report sightings to authorities.