🚀 go-pugleaf

Someone (sorry - I can't follow the attribution on this one) wrote, 

>I thought mountain lion attacks on adults were very, very rare ??
>Anybody have/know any info about mountain lion habits?

For those of us who live and/or play and/or work in wildife habitat (I'm in all
3 categories) it is a very good idea to educate ourselves as much as possible
on the behavior & ecology of mountain lions & others.

There are some generalizations, along with exceptions (the critters don't read
the books written about them!) 

That said, I heard but cannot yet substantiate until I receive some information
I requested, that circumstances in the recent death in southern California ...
included the bicyclist being crouched or sitting, repairing his bike.  

Again, not yet substantiated (Rick H. - are you reading this? Can you comment
if you know the specifics?).

But I do recall an attack on a jogger in Cuayamaca State Park who had leaned
over to tie his shoe.  

And the last time I saw a ML, I was hiking alone (2:00 in the afternoon on a
February drizzly day) and started to set down my pack.  Got that "hair on the
back of my neck" feeling, put my pack on my head (I'm "almost short") and
turned around to see a lion.  Turns out I was just uphill from his/her deer
kill.  We stayed away from each other and I hiked away while circling around to
all views, and still holding my pack on my head.  

So while it may be "uncommon" for MLs to attack humans, it is certainly common
for them to attack anyone who appears to be their usual prey.  Add confused
sub-adult males to the mix, loss of habitat due to fire storms & development,
and there are no easy answers or cookie-cutter solutions.

And, exceptions to everything!  As for "Beast in the Garden" I admit I'm
struggling with having it hold my attention. It's a bit ... well I don't know
what to call it just yet. In fairness, I need to read it a few times. 

Georgia
"Maintain your situational awareness"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Georgia Stigall
Native Habitats 
www.nativehabitats.org