Posted on 05/07/2009 2:43:47 PM PDT by jazusamo
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When a local couple heard their cats outside crying at about 2 o'clock on Tuesday morning, they thought it was probably a dog bothering their cats, but it wasn't. They were completely shocked at what they found in their yard. A huge mountain lion had made its way into the enclosure in which their cats were kept. The three cats didnt stand a chance.
The couple, who live near Crestline Video, asked not to be identified. They are heartbroken and in shock. The mountain lion was probably 3-and-a-half to four feet long, the woman said. It looked like it weighed about 300 pounds. It was four feet tall.
I was at my computer and I heard this heinous scream, the womans husband said. I didnt know if it was a raccoon or my cats. I went outside and saw a huge mountain lion trapped inside the pen. It bucked its head at me. I think it felt threatened. It didnt seem to like me at all. At that point I ran into the house and called 9-1-1.
The sheriff was there within minutes, and arrived in time to see the mountain lion while it was still in the pen.
The sheriff's spotlight was trained on the pen, and it startled the cat, the man said. It bucked the pen. It used its head to move it, and it (the pen) flew in the air. I haven't seen a mountain lion this big since (I went to) the San Diego Zoo. It's as big as the ones at the Mirage (in Vegas). When the pen went flying I ran inside the house.
If we knew something like that could do this kind of damage, the mans wife said, we'd have never left them outside, even in an enclosure.
The man said there is a gully in his back yard, and he thought the mountain lion might have been stalking animals in the area.
A couple of years ago a cat of ours vanished without a trace. This could explain it, he said. This is one mean cat. Anyone caught by this thing, if it was in the right frame of mind, would be killed.
ALWAYS BE CAUTIOUS
Deputies conducted an area check, and the mountain lion was seen in front of a home on Bowl Road, heading toward Crest Forest Drive. They contacted the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), and are reminding locals to keep an eye on their children and pets. Always supervise children when they are outdoors, and try to keep pets in at night.
As a reminder, a sheriffs' press release states, if residents see a mountain lion they are not authorized to shoot the animal, but immediately notify the sheriff's department and the DFG.
The DFG offers this information and these tips to stay safe: More than half of California is mountain lion habitat. Mountain lions generally exist wherever deer are found. They are solitary and elusive, and their nature is to avoid humans.
Mountain lions prefer deer but, if allowed, they also eat pets and livestock. In extremely rare cases, even people have fallen prey to mountain lions.
- Don't feed deer; it is illegal in California and it will attract mountain lions.
- Deer-proof your landscaping by avoiding plants that deer like to eat. For tips, request a Gardener's Guide to Preventing Deer Damage from DFG offices.
- Trim brush to reduce hiding places for mountain lions.
- Don't leave small children or pets outside unattended.
- Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house.
- Provide sturdy, covered shelters for sheep, goats, and other vulnerable animals.
- Don't allow pets outside when mountain lions are most activedawn, dusk, and at night.
- Bring pet food inside to avoid attracting raccoons, opossums and other potential mountain lion prey.
Staying Safe in Mountain Lion Country
Mountain lions are quiet, solitary and elusive, and typically avoid people. Mountain lion attacks on humans are extremely rare. However, conflicts are increasing as California's human population expands into mountain lion habitat.
- Do not hike, bike, or jog alone.
- Avoid hiking or jogging when mountain lions are most activedawn, dusk and at night.
- Keep a close watch on small children.
- Do not approach a mountain lion.
- If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run; instead, face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger by waving your arms; throw rocks or other objects. Pick up small children.
- If attacked, fight back.
- If a mountain lion attacks a person, immediately call 9-1-1.
Mountain lions that threaten people are immediately killed. Those that prey on pets or livestock can be killed by a property owner after the required depredation permit is secured. Moving problem mountain lions is not an option. It causes deadly conflicts with other mountain lions already there, or the relocated mountain lion returns to the area from which it was removed.
The largest Mountain Lion ever to be documented weighed 276 pounds, but a Lion of this size is extremely rare.
I'll bet it LOOKED that big, all furious and nasty in the middle of the night.
I’m sure it did, probably would to me too. :)
Cougar Ping!
Wh in the heck would leave their precious pets out at such an hour, especially in CA. We have all sorts of meat eating animals that come out at night here even in the cities. I have let a previous cat I owned outside (before he was hit by a car at 18 years old) but always brought him in for the night. That is just wrong.
“This is one mean cat”.
Typical California...That’ll probably change after another person is attacked by the even incresing population of cougars.
Exactly. My new cats are inside 24/7. We have to play with them more often and make sure they have lots of cat furniture :-) especially around the windows, but it is so worth it after losing my first baby furball to a car. Never again will I let my cats out.
I agree and am familiar with this area. It’s mountainous and has been sparsely populated for many years. Towns of Arrowhead, Crestline, Running Springs and Big Bear, it’s been a recreational area for many years and thousands of people use the area winter and summer.
The bigger problem with cougars is in heavily populated areas that abut mountainous areas in So CA. Cougar numbers have increased greatly since they were protected in 1990.
Never leave your pets outside.
Whyohwhy do people allow their cats (and dogs) outside at night, in mountainous areas, known for puma populations? Idiocy lives.
No matter where I have lived, my dogs were always walked (never chained during the day) and my cats were never allowed outside, period.
Ditto!!
That’s very good advice. That’s a beautiful area but haven’t been there for years, have a sister who had a place there for several years.
Cats ... belong ... indoors.
I moved from town almost 25 years ago because I wanted room, and wanted to live in proximity to wildlife. I reckon I didn’t move far enough.
Thanks, Jaz, for the ping.
But ya got me a little nervous now...
In California you would be prosecuted for killing a protected species.
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