Park Officials Warn Pokémon Go Players Of Rattlesnake Danger
LAKE CHABOT (CBS SF) -- The wilderness regions of the Bay Area are home to mountain lions, rattlesnakes and other dangers.
So concern is growing among East Bay Park officials that the current Pokémon Go craze may be endangering park visitors as well as the wildlife that call the area home.
"Some of them (Pokémon Go players) are in places that are restricted areas," said East Bay Park Police Captain Anthony Ciaburro. "They're close to where a vehicle would travel or a helicopter would land or even a place where it was restricted because we have an endangered species in that area."
The issue, officials said, is that Pokémon players have a tendency to become too focused on the game and lose sight of the dangers of their surroundings. Rattlesnakes are of particular concerns since during the hot summer months there is an increased chance of encountering them in the wilderness areas of the Bay Area and on the Peninsula.
And then there are the mountain lions that are indigenous to the hills in the East Bay and the Peninsula.
"If you do see a Mountain Lion be sure to report it to us," said East Bay Parks Police Lt. Alan Love.
On Wednesday, there were several Pokémon players at Lake Chabot Regional Park.
"There's a lot of Pokéstops and two gyms so this is a good area!" said a youngster named Vitaly who was visiting the park.