For the second time in just a few days, residents in northern Fairfield have reported unnerving encounters with a mountain lion prowling through residential neighborhoods — prompting city officials and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue warnings and urge caution.

On both Monday and early Wednesday morning, home security cameras captured footage of what appears to be the same — or possibly a second — mountain lion wandering through front yards and walkways.

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Monday’s sighting occurred on Orchid Street, in a neighborhood west of North Texas Street and south of Marigold Drive. A resident contacted Fairfield police after their camera recorded the animal briskly crossing the front walkway before leaving the view of the camera. In a social media post, police described the encounter with a touch of humor, calling the mountain lion “a strange late night/early morning visitor – one who either clearly disregarded their ‘No Soliciting’ sign, or had an earnest desire to make new friend.”

Then, early Wednesday morning, a resident in the Laurel Creek neighborhood, in the Candleberry Way and Bay Tree Drive area (further east of Monday’s sighting) found a more frightening visit from a mountain lion on their security camera.

This time the animal approached the home and stopped then snarled before backing away and leaving.

Humane Animal Services was notified and in a post on social media reminded residents that they “share space with large predators” and advising them to keep small animals indoors” and not to antagonize wildlife if they see the cat again.

That’s good advice, said California Fish & Wildlife PIO Krysten Kellum. “Mountain lions are most active from dusk to dawn and so if you are outdoors at the time, be aware, don’t leave pets outdoors overnight and if you are hiking, keep kids and small animals close,” she said.

Kellum said mountain lions don’t actually want to be around humans.

“It’s rare to see one. They don’t like being around humans and are wary, but their habitat sounds Fairfield and it sometimes happens that they wander into neighborhoods in search of food,” she said. “They will usually make their way back out of the area on their own.”

She said that while it is rare to spot one, the advent of security cameras make it more likely. But if coming face-to-face with a lion, it’s best to “make noise, get big, throw your hands in the air and scare them off,” she said. Do not antagonize them, though, and if the cat feels cornered, “make sure there is an escape route for it to take.”