[pct-l] more on mountain lions

[dsaufley at sprynet.com]

Hey, Whiptail! :o)

Friday night Nat Geo ran a program called "Cougar Island", which explored the high incidence of mountain lion attacks on Vancouver Island, BC.  Apparently, 40% of all mountain lion attacks on humans within their range of both the north and south American continents happen on this island. The coincidence of this discussion on the PCT-L and the program was delightful; they were examining the reasons why the cats on this island had begun to attack humans with greater frequency.

Interestingly, they stated that the average cat viewed humans thousands of times. The most likely cat to perpetrate an attack is an inexperienced juvenielle, between one and two years old.  The cats in this age range are still learning the ropes after their mothers essentially boot them away and stop supporting them, and these young cats sometimes starve to death in the pursuit of food. The most frequent targets for attack are children.  Obviously these aren't hard and fast, as adult cats as well as adult humans can be involved in attacks.

They believe that on Vancouver Island, the changes to the forest due to clear cutting have contributed to the cats turning to humans as prey.  Apparently when the forest is clear cut, the first growth wave is vegetation that is great for deer to flourish, and the cats flourish in turn.  But the second growth waive in a clear cut is forest so dense that sunlight does not reach the ground underneath, and this type of forrestation supports neither deer nor smaller rodents.  The predators are essentially left with a diminishing and sometimes non-existent food sources.  Where humans expand into the wildnerness, their domesticated pets become the replacement for smaller prey, and this brings in closer exposure of humans for the cats.  I was struck with the variety of circumstances, almost always induced by humans in some way, that could lead to attacks.

I've been fortunate to see mountain lions twice, and thankfully they were not stalking me at the time.  Once was on top of Figueroa Mountain in the Santa Barbara range, out by Los Olivos. I saw the big male walk up the road from my left, pass within 20' of where I and the fire lookout volunteer were positioned, and saunter its way all across the level parking area at the top of the mountain, and down the other side.  It was fearless of us.  This cat was huge and golden in color.  The second time was right up by North Fork Ranger Station, up in the San Gabriels, within 1/2 mile of the PCT.  My son and I were returning from a hike down into Pacoima Canyon, and were within 1/4 mile of the station down near where the well house is.  Across the creek, about 25' away was a long, lithe, very reddish mountain lion, drinking from the creek.  When it saw us, it sprang up the steep hillside behind it, with great reaching strides, covering ground with astonishing speed before it disappeared into the brush.  There's a lion that lives in the hills behind us, and I've heard but never seen it, though neighbors on Sierra Highway have seen it in their yards.  Lynx are also common in these parts.

It's a real thrill to see these beautiful creatures in their environment.

L-Rod







-----Original Message-----
>From: Jeff Moorehead <jeffmoorehead1 at cox.net>
>Sent: Jan 28, 2007 1:20 PM
>To: pct-l at backcountry.net
>Subject: [pct-l] more on mountain lions
>
>Bill,
> It must be the case that a good many PCT hikers get stalked by mountain 
>lions constantly . Numerous times I saw mountain lion prints superimposed on 
>my own as I was heading back out to the trail in the morning. I think the 
>lions are just curious as to whether we are food or enemies. In a few cases, 
>they take us as a potential food item and attack, but as brought out by 
>several others here, this is a very rare occurrence. There was a lion 
>sighted on the PCT this year in the Marble Mountains by Hannibal. 
>Apparently, the lion perched on a nearby log outside of a ranger station 
>waiting for a tame deer who had been seen by other hikers earlier. It left 
>without incident.
>
>I believe, the lion that ambled into a campground near the Cuyamacas in 
>southern Cal some years ago was determined to be previously owned by humans 
>and released into the wild. It could not fend for itself and was hungry and 
>malnourished. It was later destroyed by game wardens.
> 
>
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