Two contributing factors to mountain
lion re-population in our area: Lack of deer hunters and influx of wild
pigs. A few decades ago, the hunter population was hard at work here in
Swanton, keeping the deer down to a reasonable number. Very few dedicated
hunters here anymore, and the deer are plentiful. Wild pigs appeared in
the fall of 1983; rumor has it they were planted by someone who wanted a game
animal to hunt. For awhile, they were thick around here, doing vast damage
to the land, like giant rototillers all through the pastures. Hunters have
reduced them to a more controllable number. I can't imagine a more tasty
morsel for a lion than a baby porker. Our dog used to nail a piglet every
once in awhile, and the mother would just run away. So I can't imagine a
sow would stand up to a lion who was taking one of her brood. And beside,
if you have 16 kids, you wouldn't miss one particularly. I once saw a sow
with 16 piglets.
So, we have restricted hunting, a
generous supply of meat, and what is a poor lion to do but move in and avail
himself to the bounty? I do rather resent the fact that I don't feel
perfectly safe hiking out onto the ridges in the early morning as we used to
do.
That is very sad and scary and I wouldn't want it to happen to
my own at all. However they are here all over Calif. Once again,
very ironically timely post (just like the bear topic) as at the American
River Ride on Saturday just after I left to go back to Auburn (from Cool
VC) my husband said a rider came in; he didn't know if it was a sweep
rider or whoever, but the person said a Mt. Lion was spotted on the trail
about a 1/2 mile out and for riders to be careful. As far as I know all
riders had no issues w/wildlife that day (except for abig old rattlesnake in
the road just prior to the skatepark coming into Auburn in the am..) and
I don't think the cat was spotted again. I was surprised however, that it was
out in the open in the middle of the day. Maybe Dawn can kick in here on
that for more info.
Still, part of the environment. As Dawn says,
carry pepper spray and I believe she also has mentioned, put your animals in
at night if you can. She also had what I thought was a good idea to draw eyes
on your horses rear end...I guess you must have to have some artistic
abilities though! She can elaborate on that...:)
Also,
Dawn, if you are reading this post this am, best wishes for Apache to get
better! Sorry to hear he was ill. For those who don't know, Apache
is Dawns Mt. Lion she has cared for for years, and in his young years was
incorporated into her education program.
