Posted on 01/08/2004 6:33:50 PM PST by SoCal Pubbie
LOS ANGELES -- A mountain lion is reportedly on the loose after attacking and killing a biker in a popular hiking and camping area in South Orange County. Two other bikers were also injured by the "aggressive animal."
The attack took place in the Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in the Cleveland National Forest which is located near Lake Forest, Calif.
A male mountain biker between 20 to 30 years of age was attacked and killed by the mountain lion. When two female bikers came across the man they stopped to try and help him. At that point, the mountain lion, apparently trying to defend it's kill, pounced on one of the women.
The other woman reportedly saved her friend by throwing rocks at the mountain lion and scaring it away. As paramedics tried to help the victims, the animal continued trying to attack. Because paramedics are not armed, Orange County officials sent in an observer to help protect the group. The most seriously injured in the attack was airlifted to a local hospital.
Officials were initially trying to capture the animal, but because it keeps coming back and is described as "very, very aggressive," they are now considering it for termination. The animal is believed to weigh about 150-pounds. Officials had to use their helicopter unit to help chase the animal off. The area is being treated as a crime scene.
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Officials were initially trying to capture the animal, but because it keeps coming back and is described as "very, very aggressive," they are now considering it for termination
like deer and geese on the golf courses soon.
I don't know whether to say "what a bizarre title" or "only in the mind of liberals".
Of course the animal is "on the loose". That's what he does.
Maybe liberals think that cats , once it's explained to them, respond to reason and turn themselves in voluntarily after having committed the "sin" of trying to survive.
What a tragedy this was. A few years ago, a woman jogger was killed. These are not little pussy cats.
Concur. This is what startles me most about this story.
A few years ago, we were hiking alone in a State Historical Park in the afternoon when we saw one of the Park Rangers leaving. I asked the Ranger if it was safe to be hiking alone as long as we stayed on the path.
She said "Actually we have had several sightings and reports from hikers of a female cougar walking along the path in the past few weeks."
"If you see it, don't run and don't stoop down for any reason. That's what deer and rabbits do before they try to run away from the cougar. Keep your kids close to you."
"In fact, it would be good to carry a big stick with you. Forget looking for one after you spot the cougar - it's too late."
"Just try to 'look big' by waving your arms in the air and by keeping your kids close to you. She'll probably leave you alone."
Despite the Ranger's "probably" we hiked up hill on the path for about another 10 minutes then sanity overcame my bravery and we hightailed it back down the trail to safety.
On another occasion I asked another Ranger in a different park if cougars generally were considered not very dangerous especially if you leave them alone. He replied:
"Cougars are lions, carnivores, just as dangerous as those lions found in other countries, although they are much smaller. The average cougar can take a 130 pound deer in its mouth over a 7 foot fence. If a cougar is hungry, a 130 pound or smaller sized human is equally vulnerable, although not a cougar's typical meal choice. Cougars are rarely seen, but that doesn't mean that they are not in the bushes watching."
This cougar attack tonight could serve as an important reminder for those who may still feel completely safe on hikes in the wilderness or who may still feel that a cougar would never leap out of the bushes at them.
I love wildlife and respect wildlife as much as I respect other wonders of nature. I also think that it's perfectly okay to give the creatures an extremely wide berth.
These people in today's attack were on bikes, probably going a lot faster than the average hiker. I've been on long walking hikes since the two quasi-warnings I heard from the Rangers. I hiked in the heart of cougar country, carrying no sticks, no big rocks and with the idea that it could never happen to me. Shudder.
And the other victim was a man. Most male bicyclists weigh more than 130 pounds, right?
Coyotes come down from the hills looking for food. They stay when they find pets cocker spaniel size and smaller. Then Wild Animal Control people come out with live traps, catch the coyotes and kill them. Once coyotes find a good feeding area with plenty of pets in the suburbs, they always find their way back.
Considering???
Becki
If you're confused by these two little words, you've come to the right place.
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It's is a contraction for it is or it has.
Its is a possessive pronoun meaning, more or less, of it or belonging to it.
And there is absolutely, positively, no such word as its'.
A simple test
If you can replace it[']s in your sentence with it is or it has, then your word is it's; otherwise, your word is its.
Another test
Its is the neuter version of his and her. Try plugging her into your sentence where you think its belongs. (It's better to use her for reasons I may explain someday.) If the sentence still works grammatically (if not logically) then your word is indeed its.
Examples
It's been good to know you. Contraction: it has
It's a bird! It's a plane! Contraction: it is
The dodo bird is known for its inability to fly. Possessive pronoun: its inability = the dodo bird's inability
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