The Lehi Police Department took to social media with the advisory Monday morning.

Doorbell camera video shows the big cat walking across the lawn of a home on Woods Drive near Allred Park (the area of 550 North and 1000 West) in the overnight hours into Monday morning.

It was spotted again a short time later near 800 West and 900 North, according to authorities.

Courtesy: Lehi Police Department

“Please stay alert and keep an eye on your children while they walk to school. If possible, drive your children to school until the situation is resolved,” the police department said on social media. “Lehi PD is doing extra patrols of the area. If you see the mountain lion do not approach it or run from it.”

Out of an abundance of caution, several Lehi middle schools opted to hold outdoor recess inside of their buildings to ensure kids were safe.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has been made aware of the situation.

Initially, the Lehi Police Department said wildlife officials were combing the area looking for the cat, but Central Region Outreach Manager Scott Root said the agency had not been on scene.

“We will typically respond if a mountain lion has killed like a deer in somebody’s yard, yeah, or if somebody actually has eyes on it, like it’s holed up in a garage or up in a tree. Those are the times that we’re going to respond immediately,” Root told the Daily Herald.

He said ring camera captures of mountain lions aren’t uncommon. Root said it’s possible it could be a young lion passing through the area looking for water or trying to establish a territory.

“I know people probably love to have us, you know, climbing fences tonight with flashlights and everything, but we have to have somebody have eyes on it to really be able to do anything,” Root said.

DWR says while mountain lions and cougars are found throughout the state, typically in the foothills and canyon areas, it’s not completely unlikely to spot them in the valleys and lower elevations.

“You know, we’ve had mountain lions down in Salt Lake, (near) The Delta Center,” Root said. “One thing we’re learning now that we have, like, GPS collars on some mountain lions (is) they travel long distances.”

The unnerving feeling knowing that a large animal is at large in an area is a safety concern. That’s why wildlife officials remind citizens of helpful tips to keep in mind in the event of a mountain lion encounter.

Wildlife officials said it’s a good idea to not leave small children outside, especially at dawn or dusk, and to bring livestock and pets inside. If you’re out jogging or walking, it’s a good idea to travel in groups, and if you see a dead animal carcass that’s covered with grass or soil, stay away from it and call DWR.

If you encounter a mountain lion, several tips are advised, according to wildawareutah.org:

• “Stop. Never run from a cougar. Do not approach the cougar.”
• “Maintain eye contact.”
• “Pick up children and pets or keep them very close.”
• “Stand up tall.”
• “Do not crouch or squat.”
• “Make yourself look bigger by raising and waving your arms or jacket above your head.”
• “Talk firmly in a loud voice, back away slowly and leave the area.”
• “Fight back if you are attacked! Protect your head and neck.”
• “If you are aggressive enough the cougar will probably flee.”

The Lehi Police Department encourages residents to call them at 801-798-5600 with reports of a sighting.