Santiago Canyon Wildlife Alert

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Not sure if this already got posted since I've been work ing so much lately. Forgive me if it has...

This was issued by the Irvine Ranch Water District Management.

The public is advised to drive with extra caution along Santiago Canyon Road (especially within the burn areas) and to be alert for deer and other wildlife. Orange County Animal Control (OCAC) stated yesterday that since the fires, there are--on average--four (4) deer per week being struck by/running into vehicles along Santiago Canyon Road. OCAC stated the shelters and food sources for the deer and other wildlife were destroyed by the recent fires. For example, last week, a mountain lion found searching for food near Irvine Lake had to be euthanized because its paws were badly burned. The County expects that this particular instance is probably not an isolated case. According to OCAC, the wildlife is searching for both food and for shelter. They stated that many of the animals are now homeless and disoriented and it will take some time before the crisis for the animals has passed. They are asking that drivers use extra caution within these burn areas. Orange County Public Works is considering placing additional signage along the road other than the standard|signs to alert drivers. The fires have taken a devastating toll on the wildlife and the County is working to do what they can to help alleviate the problem and they are asking for our assistance.

KeepsWhatHappens

[jayman_29]

You also will want to watch it on the toll roads as well. The other night on my way home I saw a deer that looked like it was going to try and cross the freeway. This was where the 241 North curves under Santiago Canyon Road (and also where CHP likes to hang out, I always look at the blind curves for them and thats how I saw the deer). I was in the fast lane and my coworker was in the slow lane and a little behind me. I flashed my lights and honked my horn to scare the deer away. Luckily it ran back into the hillside instead of bolting out onto the freeway. If that would've happened, I'd be telling my other coworkers about how our other coworker would be taking some days off to get his car fixed. Be careful out there, there are a lot of blind turns so take it slow....especially at night.

[foofighter]

Channel 7 ABC is about to do a story bout a mountain lion being caught while roaming a local neighborhood.

REDLANDS, Nov. 29, 2007 (KABC-TV) - Two mountain lions were spotted on the prowl Thursday morning next to Crafton Elementary in Redlands.

It was a frightening morning for residents that live on Crafton Court. At around 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Thursday morning two mountain lions appeared in the quiet neighborhood.
They went into someone's backyard through a hole in a fence and ran up a tree. One of the mountain lions managed to escape, the other was trapped when the Department of Fish and Game arrived on the scene.

The mountain lion in the tree was hit with a tranquilizer and within minutes climbed down and sat still.

Officials were very cautious when they moved in and placed restraints on her legs. They covered her eyes so she would not spook or be nervous.

Officials believe that the female cat is approximately 6½ months old. She was examined for any injuries and appeared to be fine. She was then tagged and will be relocated.

There were some concerns because there is a school in the area. The students at Crafton Elementary were immediately sent into their classrooms and were placed on lockdown.

"Lions really cover large areas. A female can have a home range of 40 square miles. So they have plenty of area to look for food. I do not know why this lion is in this area. It is a question we have had around Redlands for the past ten years, because the lions show up repeatedly here," said Kevin Brennan, CA Department of Fish and Game.

Biologist say it is rare for the big cats to come this far in from the mountains, but not unheard of. The washes in the area stretch for miles into the foothills and can sometimes channel wildlife down into towns.

The two mountain lions biologists say were travelling together. One got away after the two were spotted in a tree by a neighbor.

"He calls me up at 6:30 and said there were a couple of cats back there in the tree. I didn't believe him. I came and looked at them and they were big," said John Guerrero who saw the mountain lions.

"This goes on up and down the state on a regular basis. Anywhere people live in foothill communities you can have lions show up at any time," said biologist Kevin Brennan.

But the mountain lions showed up at an elementary school and it comes on the heels of a mountain lion attack in Duarte earlier this week.

Two German Shepards were targeted. The 4-year-old survived, but the 12-year-old was not as fortunate, it was killed by the cat.

Despite the novelty of seeing a mountain lion residents in the Redland neighborhood admit they are a bit unnerved.

"A little worried because there are small kids in the neighborhood. We were concerned and made sure that they were indoors. But we stay close to the doors so if anything happened we could just run back inside," said Gayle Learned, a neighborhood resident.

But there was no escape for the 6½ month old cat, but once the cat is back on its feet it will be relocated.

"We will find the nearest wildlife habitat and release it," said biologist Kevin Brennan.

Officials are urging residents to be careful and keep their pets indoors at night.