DANVILLE — Fish and Game officials have declared it safe to go back in the park.

A mountain lion, reportedly seen last month near the east side of Osage Park in Danville, appears to have moved on, Danville officials say.

After studying the area for a week and seeing no signs of the cat, the Department of Fish and Game told town leaders it was safe to reinstate the park's normal hours of operation, Danville emergency services manager Greg Gilbert said.

Two maintenance workers reported seeing a mountain lion, believed to be between 90 and 100 pounds, around 8 a.m. on April 29 in San Ramon Creek along the park's east side. Because the area is close to several schools, physical education classes normally held at the park were relocated. In addition, park hours temporarily were scaled back to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

From April 29 to May 5, Fish and Game set up a camera in the creek area to see if the animal had returned.

The camera recorded no images of a lion, only raccoons and birds, Gilbert said. Fish and Game also scoured the area and found no telltale signs of a large cat, such as freshly killed animals, tracks or scat.

The most likely scenario is that the lion the workers saw has moved away in search of food, Gilbert said.

"The camera is to verify that that cat is staying in the area, to see its patterns and what it's doing. Obviously, if it's going to be comfortable in that setting around people, then at that point

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Animal Control would make a decision about removing the animal," Gilbert said. He added, "In this case, the animal is gone, as best as we can tell."

Mountain lions generally avoid urban areas, roaming where there is an ample food supply. Gilbert said residents should remember that the best thing to do if they encounter a mountain lion is to stand still and try to look bigger than they are. For more tips on how to handle mountain lions, visit the National Park Service Web site at www.nps.gov/bibe/naturescience/dont_be_prey.htm.

Staff reports contributed to this story. Reach reporter Jeanine Benca at 925-847-2125 or jbenca@bayareanewsgroup.com.