I live in foothills of the Sierra Nevadas in California. Gated community 1.5 acres typical parcel a 1/2 mile from a major highway. My neighbor has seen the lion twice in a week and warned us when it went into our yard. We found a deer carcass in our yard last week. My 10 year old daughter saw it in our driveway at 5:00 last night. She is scared to death now. Not sure if it is the same lion that has been seen over the years but now its hunting in the neighborhood.
I called CA fish and game and was told I cant harass the lion by hiring a guy with hounds without getting a permit first- that could take weeks and I may have to appear before them. They said that I was more likely to be killed by lightning to which I said not really as there is no lightning in my yard but there is a lion. I was also told that " if I feel threatened I can take appropriate action" .. which I think means I should get a rifle locked and loaded and if I do see him I should pop him. I will deal with it mafia style and dispose of the body. has anyone else dealt with this issue? I am not a hunter and don't like the idea of killing him but a bunch of cats and small dogs have disappeared over the year and while the odds are long I don't want to see a tragedy.
capone, you have a fence? You might want to seriously consider.
The problem with getting a gun is that mountain lions are tough to shoot. Most likely, you will not get a kill-shot unless she is charging you. Instead, you will wound her and there is nothing more dangerous on the planet earth than a wounded lion. You would have to call in experts to make sure the lion was dead and then you would be in big trouble legally.
I'd get a gun but would not shoot unless it was a life threatening situation. Just having the gun will make you feel safe.
Also, be careful because mountain lions hunt in pairs. So, while you are looking at one of them, the other one is sneaking up behind you. They kill by getting you in the neck from behind. You want to have your back against a good thick tree.
I know a guy who was attacked by a mountain lion. She sprang and he was able to fight her off with a thick branch he had picked up. He started hollering for his brother and and when his brother came running down yelling his head off, the lion ran off. All he had were some scratches. The lesson of the story is don't be alone in mountain lion territory.
This was right below Half Moon Bay. The guy was a cop and was berry picking with his brother. So, don't believe the crap about lion attacks not happening. They do happen. Not frequently but they do happen.
capone, I always try to find a way to let wildlife just be wildlife. With me, when I lived in rural areas, it was always with the dogs. However, if this animal is settling in and getting comfortable, and if the noise/lights/movement ideas fail to achieve good results, don't discount a weapon.
Only you can decide if it becomes aggressive enough to warrant this action.
Apparently it has found good hunting and has claimed the area as it's own.
Randy, a coyote. You haven't coon and foxed proofed your hen house yet? Don't be lazy. Actually shut the door every night and open it in the morning.
Apparently it has found good hunting and has claimed the area as it's own.
Randy, a coyote. You haven't coon and foxed proofed your hen house yet? Don't be lazy. Actually shut the door every night and open it in the morning.
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Just last night I went outside to throw away some garbage (maybe 11PM). I'm walking through my yard and 3 coyotes start barking or whining or whatever it's called. Felt like they were no more than 20 feet away from me. I remember being told to walk away all calm like if you encounter coyotes. I on the other hand ran like a school girl into my house. A pack of coyotes? C-ya!
Nice. You should hear a fox calling (presumably its cubs or mate). Never heard anything like it.
Again, I like foxes, but a crying fox in the middle of the night, or a bobcat wailing, will set your hair on end!
A mountain lion in the dark...with their low kinda rumbling growl will make you sit up and start paying attention real quick.
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In comment 11780408 Micko said:
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Just last night I went outside to throw away some garbage (maybe 11PM). I'm walking through my yard and 3 coyotes start barking or whining or whatever it's called. Felt like they were no more than 20 feet away from me. I remember being told to walk away all calm like if you encounter coyotes. I on the other hand ran like a school girl into my house. A pack of coyotes? C-ya!
Nice. You should hear a fox calling (presumably its cubs or mate). Never heard anything like it.
Again, I like foxes, but a crying fox in the middle of the night, or a bobcat wailing, will set your hair on end!
A mountain lion in the dark...with their low kinda rumbling growl will make you sit up and start paying attention real quick.
I am not aware of them hunting in pairs in either suburbia or the wild, mountain lions are solitary animals that do not form packs or prides. They do have a huge roam radius so chances are that it will leave at some point. Washington Fish and Game has a good primer on encounters...link below.
Cougars...the feline kind - ( New Window )
Link - ( New Window )
I'm not saying you didn't do right or this wouldn't work out in a lot of places. But... I would never ever alert authorities.
Kill it and bury it deep. The last thing I want is a green conservation or police officer making my life hell over protecting myself or others.
maybe Conn and Okl mountain lions don't hunt together, but if you are in CA and you encounter a mountain lion, trust me, you should keep your back protected and keep your eyes on the lion in front of you.
So, cat missing since last Sunday. I put out flyers Tuesday. I get a call 5 hours ago, "Randy? Hi, this is **** next door and I think we have your cat!"
So she brought her to the vet (no charge for some reason) and had her at the house all week? Again, several people around here lost their cats recently (including the landlord of these assmonkeys!)
Did I land in Bizarro world because for the life of me I'd like to be gracious to these fucknuts for returning my cat but why not KNOCK ON MY DOOR TO SEE IF I'M MISSING A CAT before taking it to the vet (everything was fine, apparently, btw)...Why go through all that trouble and not ask the neighbors??
I am more angry than grateful.
Bring it on fuckers! :)
Unless you're familiar with, and proficient with, guns, you shouldn't go that route. you don't want a wounded cougar, or a neighbor with a hole in his house.
What the fuck are you complaining about?
It is customary to make posters and walk around town posting them if you find a pet?
So, cat missing since last Sunday. I put out flyers Tuesday. I get a call 5 hours ago, "Randy? Hi, this is **** next door and I think we have your cat!"
So she brought her to the vet (no charge for some reason) and had her at the house all week? Again, several people around here lost their cats recently (including the landlord of these assmonkeys!)
Did I land in Bizarro world because for the life of me I'd like to be gracious to these fucknuts for returning my cat but why not KNOCK ON MY DOOR TO SEE IF I'M MISSING A CAT before taking it to the vet (everything was fine, apparently, btw)...Why go through all that trouble and not ask the neighbors??
I am more angry than grateful.
Bring it on fuckers! :)
Glad your family has it pet back.
What ever did come from those neighbors? Did they assimilate into normal neighbors or still the same? Did you ever find out what the story behind it was?
Steve, they still have the strange lifestyle of the house being seemingly empty for a few days at a time. No, they are not "normal".
Get a shotgun and shoot the thing. It's become a threat. Survival of the fittest .. or something like that.
I'm not a hunter and I don't like killing animals, but this is an easy call when your children are at risk.
lmao, love this post.
Good luck buddy.