Mountain lion kills California man in state’s first fatal attack in 20 years (Sacramento: living in, fence)

[mattja]

Originally Posted by ChrisMT

I wonder if they had shot anything? Some of these attacks seem to be when hunters are dressing their kill or tracking a wounded animal? I remember a bear attack killed some in a hunting party who were very experienced in Wyoming in this scenario....

This is scary for those of us who live in mountain lion habitat and hike/bike/camp etc. These guys were armed and hunters and still were severely injured and killed. I also wonder if having big dogs with me would help, at least buy you time to get out the spray or gun. Seems like the lions attack the dogs first over the humans....my dogs get terrified sometimes when we are out biking or hiking, like all hair up, eyes big, walking against me...I always think it mean there is a lion around because they don't get that terrified of bears.

I'm in Nevada and do get more nervous in heavily forested areas like where this happened as the element of surprise is that much more deadly

So very sad for these young men.

If you watch the old Wild Kingdom reruns, they often used a pair of dogs to track and corner big cats. But they had to keep the dogs away from the cat otherwise the cat would kill them.

There was a couple killed in Banff National Park last year by a bear. They had a dog, bear spray, etc., but none of that saved them or their dog. Considering there were two of them, a rifle would have saved them.

Couple killed by grizzly bear took the proper precautions. Why didn’t it save them?

It's a dangerous world and our current policies towards predators, especially wolves, is making the wilderness more dangerous. Arm yourself accordingly.

[CalWorth]

I saw one at Palomar Mountain, SoCal, years ago, also in Daley Ranch, Escondido, CA. And in Washington state, I see them even more frequently. I have always had large dogs with me, so that probably helped me.

This recent occurrence is about 15 miles from where a relative lives. That area of woods is overcrowded with people, houses & tourists everywhere. I'm surprised it has not happened before. If you are in the woods, remember, this is their home, they were there first.

[NORTY FLATZ]

Originally Posted by mgforshort

We live 70 miles from that spot in a similar environment. We have black bears, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, red fox, rattle snakes, coyotes and mountain lions. I had seen them all in our own backyard with the exception of the last two, but that doesn't mean they are not around. I won't take our small dog out for a walk without some protection, bear spray, machete or a baseball bat. Out in the woods I prefer something stronger. I find it sad that two grown men couldn't fight off a mountain lion.

The last lion attack on a woman happened north of us, and she was saved by her dog, a Belgian Malinois. The dog survived the immediate attack but died later form the injuries.

Now here's someone who is greatly under estimating a mountain lion's capabilities. Greatly.

[ChrisMT]

There was a situation here in Nevada where a mountain lion was harassing a girl walking a Great Pyrenees on a leash!

So the lion ran away after a face-off, but I was a little freaked out that it would approach the Pyrenees in the first place???

Yes, a mountain lion will run from some hunting hounds in a pack, but they also will attack and kill dogs, they do hunt coyotes in the wild. I live in the wildland interface and am nervous about my big dogs in my back acreage because we have so many deer all over the neighborhood....I figure the lions have to be close by :O

Interesting about the comment regarding predators and policies...here in Nevada, mountain lions can be tracked and killed with depredation or hunting tags...and they are more afraid of people because of it. Very rare to have a close encounter here even though we have many lions. You do have to wonder if they are losing fear of humans through no hunting policies and also, of course, because of more humans living close to them in California.

If the brothers were collecting antlers, then they probably were in an area where many deer congregate regularly and the lion might have had a kill nearby and was attacking more to protect its food. Ugh. How many times have I come upon a deer carcass in the wild? Sometimes even fresh blood all over...I have lucked out, thinking about some situations over the years....

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by mattja

If you watch the old Wild Kingdom reruns, they often used a pair of dogs to track and corner big cats. But they had to keep the dogs away from the cat otherwise the cat would kill them.

There was a couple killed in Banff National Park last year by a bear. They had a dog, bear spray, etc., but none of that saved them or their dog. Considering there were two of them, a rifle would have saved them.

Couple killed by grizzly bear took the proper precautions. Why didn’t it save them?

It's a dangerous world and our current policies towards predators, especially wolves, is making the wilderness more dangerous. Arm yourself accordingly.

Yes, those cats can kill any dog … but they won’t unless there is no escape. Why? All carnivores - except grizzlies - know instinctively that injuries suffered in the wilds can kill them.

Black bears won’t mess with dogs either, even though they too can likely win a fight. But grizzlies are truly fearless.

Good news: no grizzly populations in California.

”Current policies towards predators are making the wilderness more dangerous.” LoL. The wilderness used to be safe? Back in the good ‘ole days?

Think

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by ChrisMT

There was a situation here in Nevada where a mountain lion was harassing a girl walking a Great Pyrenees on a leash!

So the lion ran away after a face-off, but I was a little freaked out that it would approach the Pyrenees in the first place???

Yes, a mountain lion will run from some hunting hounds in a pack, but they also will attack and kill dogs, they do hunt coyotes in the wild. I live in the wildland interface and am nervous about my big dogs in my back acreage because we have so many deer all over the neighborhood....I figure the lions have to be close by :O

Interesting about the comment regarding predators and policies...here in Nevada, mountain lions can be tracked and killed with depredation or hunting tags...and they are more afraid of people because of it. Very rare to have a close encounter here even though we have many lions. You do have to wonder if they are losing fear of humans through no hunting policies and also, of course, because of more humans living close to them in California.

Yes, I’m not surprised a mountain lion would mess with a Great Pyrenees. As I mentioned earlier, cats (really all animals) can read their opposition at a glance. Big lumbering dogs like Bernards and Pyrenees just look like big meals … not much more challenge than a deer … or a cow.

Athletic hunting and or fighting dogs are obviously a dangerous project.

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by mgforshort

… I find it sad that two grown men couldn't fight off a mountain lion.
….

Originally Posted by NORTY FLATZ

Now here's someone who is greatly under estimating a mountain lion's capabilities. Greatly.

When you think on it for a minute, two grown men could even have a pretty hard time with a nasty alley cat. Ever try to give a cat a bath?

[mgforshort]

Black bears and grizzlies are all bears like pellet guns and AR-15 are all fire arms. My 87 year old neighbor chased a black bear out of his garage with a broom. The dude is 5'3" and 92 lbs.

[recycled]

Two decades ago I was living in Foothill Ranch (part of Lake Forest), CA which is the entrance to Whiting Ranch Regional Park (Orange County regional park system). I was a frequent trail runner on the 20+ miles of trails in the park at the base of the Santa Ana Mountains. I usually ran in the early morning hours, at dawn's early light before going to work. I went out for a run in Whiting Ranch park just a few hours before the mountain lion attack described below occurred. What really spooked me was that I ran on a trail that was just 100 or so yards away from the place where a few hours later, a mountain biker crouched over to work on his bike chain was killed and partially eaten by a large mountain lion. Shortly after the lion attacked two other women mountain bikers.

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/...ge-2814215.php

Yes, I know the odds of getting attacked by a mountain lion are very low and there are usually some odd circumstances surrounding many of the incidents. However, the memory of January 8, 2004 has never gone away and makes me respect the power of nature (and all her creatures) when I am in any wild country area.

[DiffuseGlow]

Originally Posted by CalWorth

If you are in the woods, remember, this is their home, they were there first.

Bingo. "Encroaching wildlife" is an oxymoron.