LAKE COUNTY — It”s rutting season for deer which translates into higher activity for the doe-eyed creatures as they search for their mates, often attracting mountain lions in their wake. Drivers and residents should be aware to take measures not to add to the problem by feeding deer, according to Department of Fish and Game warden Loren Freeman.
“There”s been typical mountain lion activity as the deer herd moves around, seeking food and water?the predators associated with them move as well, including coyotes and mountain lions. Wildlife is not fixed in one place. We have to remember that”s what mountain lions do, they live here, we live in their habitat not the other way around,” Freeman said.
For Lower Lake resident Marie Newsome, the deer brought a bigger threat to her yard. On Oct. 2 at 4 p.m. her husband Bernard was watching deer grazing next door as he watered plants in the garden of their Lake Blvd. home when an approximately 180 pound mountain lion crashed through the fence into their yard, attacking a deer 12 feet away from him.
“He was so frightened that he came inside immediately. It was over before it started. The deer was dragged away and there was no trace of either the deer or mountain lion other than the fence between the yards that was broken,” Newsome said.
Newsome said she hopes more steps will be taken to ensure the protection of citizens in residential areas where cougars are known to roam.
“With the obvious influx of more residents to come, it is unconscionable to allow predators to threaten the lives of those already here as well as future inhabitants,” Newsome said. She added that a few weeks ago another deer was attacked and killed by a cougar in the front driveway of her neighbor on Anderson Road in Lower Lake.
During that incident, Newsome and several neighbors congregated as they observed an “enormous puddle of blood” in the driveway of the Anderson Road residence, feeling helpless as they listened to what Newsome described as a “high pitched, blood curdling scream” coming from the deer for several minutes as it was dragged across the street and into the hills. “I think there is a need to educate people on what to do. We”re wondering if this is the same cat. I think that now this cat is invading our neighborhood, it needs to be tracked and removed,” Newsome said.
She said receiving information about how to deal with mountain lions has been quite a challenge. “After the attack my husband called 9-1-1 and we were referred to Fish and Game, they told us if the mountain lion attacks, call 9-1-1. It was a very circular conversation?I don”t know what to do.”
Freeman said Fish and Game will record sightings and behavior of cougars, and if one appears to be threatening people, a depredation permit will be issued and the lion”s life will be taken.
Mountain lions are a protected species and it is illegal to shoot them, Freeman said.
“If the lion is merely walking through someone”s yard or killing deer that”s not enough to take the animal”s life; we would class that as a sighting. It would have to exhibit signs of aggression to people and damage to public property or livestock for DFG to take a depredation permit. We do not relocate lions; that”s a policy we have. The best thing people can do to help with the problem is to stop feeding wildlife. That”s a big problem here,” Freeman said.
Of the roughly 300 or so mountain lions in Lake County, Freeman said the DFG has received an “average” amount of sightings reported this fall. If one encounters a cougar, he gave this advice: “Make yourself appear larger, face the lion and do not run away, avoid walking alone or in early morning or dusk during mountain lions” hunting times and if it attacks?fight back.”
The number to call to report a mountain lion sighting is dispatch number 998-9208.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com
