Wild late night fake outs frustrating California wildlife officials: ‘Waste taxpayer resources’

Source: New York Post

The latest “mountain lion” terrorizing a Sacramento neighborhood wasn’t a predator at all, it was an AI-doctored image. But wildlife officials say the fake feline is part of a growing online trend, as eerily realistic AI-generated clips showing impossible backyard encounters, from bears cozying up to house cats to coyotes mingling with pets and rabbits, rack up millions of views and leave neighbors wondering what’s real. 7 An AI-edited image falsely depicting a mountain lion was shared on Nextdoor on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, officials said.