Odessa police officials urged local residents to take precautions Friday following the reported sighting of a mountain lion near Comanche Trail, which is the third time in less than a day the large cat has been seen.

The sighting was reported sometime Friday morning to the Odessa Animal Control unit, which is overseen by the Odessa Police Department. The report indicated that the mountain lion was seen in the West Monahans Street and West Charles Street area.

Friday’s reported sighting follows a sighting of a mountain lion on Thursday, which Joe Barreraz, field operations manager and cruelty investigator with the Odessa Animal Control unit, said included the “flag down” of a police officer by someone Thursday claiming to have seen what looked like a mountain lion.

Residents were urged to not approach the animals, to never leave food in outside areas and to keep an eye on their children and pets. The decision to put up traps around the area where the sightings have been reported would be up to game wardens, Barreraz said.

The animals are indigenous to the Commanche Trail area, Barreraz said. “They are pretty common here.”