A Santee resident got more than he bargained for when he reviewed his newly installed trail camera footage early Monday morning. Paul Burke, who lives near the West Sycamore Canyon adjacent to Santee Lakes, set up the cameras on his property just a few weeks ago. He was expecting the usual suspects — coyotes, raccoons, the occasional bird — but the footage that came back at 4:12 a.m. showed something far more striking: a mountain lion.

The video shows the large feline moving low to the ground through tall grass in the darkness, its eye reflecting white in the camera beam before it slowly disappeared past the frame. Burke shared the footage with NBC 7 San Diego, which first reported the sighting on March 10.

"I love the wildlife but am a little concerned since I have two small dogs," Burke told NBC 7. "The coyotes I am not worried about, but the mountain lions do give me pause."

His property borders the West Sycamore Canyon, which connects to the vast Mission Trails Regional Park — thousands of acres of open space where mountain lions are known to roam. Wildlife experts note that half of California is considered mountain lion habitat, but direct sightings and encounters remain rare.

Residents near canyon edges, Santee Lakes, and Mission Trails are advised to keep small pets indoors or supervised after dusk, avoid leaving pet food outside, and make noise while hiking to avoid surprising wildlife. If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run — face it, make yourself appear large, and back away slowly.