Man shoots mountain lion in Trabuco

[LBmtb]

A man shot a mountain lion in his backyard. An investigation will be done since the animals are protected but he says it was self defense.

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thoughts?

[ocrider]

I don't think it was self defense he could have stayed inside if he wanted to. But he grabed his gun and approached the animal, and wounded it.

[mcgrath]

I'm sure if I had a 9mm handgun at my home I would have done the same. Since I don't have a firearm on hand, I would have probably just stayed inside. Can't say I blame the guy. Very sad.

[RidetheRAAM4]

yeah he wasnt in danger...i know people in colorado...had a bear INSIDE the house...they were scared, but didnt feel threatened, just called the police and the bears got out safely (a momma and 2 cubs)

Without being in the situation, its hard to say what I would have done. It made me very sad though to see them hauling the deceased lion away.

[Schecky]

It does seem like he was at least a little trigger happy. If you move next to a forest, you have to expect that you're going to see some wildlife - and you shouldn't be surprised that it reacts when you approach it.
If you don't want it in your yard, shouldn't you keep your fence fixed?

That being said, he was the person who was actually facing the lion, I'm willing to give him a bit of leeway.

[Evel Knievel]

It was my understanding that before protected status that controlled hunts would take place to control the population.


This was pre suburbia expansion . And now ....

Don't be suprised if the conservtives start preaching that policy again . There is logic in if you can't kill they people in the cat's territory , then kill the cats's .

My twisted logic makes me believe that these hungry cats would be the best service to us all by being captured. Flow by B-1 bomber to a better habitat in Afghanistan's mtn's . Maybe they would even root out OBL . They like caves right. ( - ;

[TURNERob]

The guy didn't have to go outside, and if he doesn't want mtn lions in his yard then build a better fence.

[RidetheRAAM4]

the cats need to stay there and stay protected....they are probably one of the only reasons why those mountains and everything still exist over there....im sure the people would love to expand and build more houses and take our trails away

[ECOdork]

Damn. Yet another story that paints these animals as blood-thirsty beasts...
"...she was surprised the cat chose her back yard because neither she nor her neighbors on either side had pets."

Maybe something in your trash-cans smelled good lady!

I like to think that I wouldn't do the same thing in the same situation. One thing is for sure, the more we encroach on their habitat, the more stuff like this is likely to happen....

And if you choose to live next to a wilderness, expect to see animals. Those views come with a cost besides money...

[JamR]

I have not read all of the facts on this incident, but from what little I've read so far, I gather the lion was actually in his back yard.

Unfortunately this is not a good event to have a lion in one's yard, and I don't think it's an issue of building a better fence. Most residential areas limit fence heights to a maximum of 6' which is not much of a deterrent for an animal who can jump up 18'+/- on the average.

I can't really agree or disagree with his actions since I don't know the facts, (ie..where his house is located, actions of the lion, kids in the area, etc...). Sounds like an investigation will take place to figure out if his actions were justified, or if he should have simply called authorities.

Most lions go to great lengths to stay out of sight from humans, so it's not really typical to find one in your yard, unless of course your backyard is truly right up against the wilderness, (again, I don't know his particular situation). In that case one should expect visits from nature, and can make a conscious decision to live there or not.

Unfortunately Fish and Wildlife were probably given no choice but to finish the job since the animal was wounded and dangerous. Can't blame them for doing their jobs.

It will be interesting to see how this shapes up and if his initial reactions were justified.

[ECOdork]

JamR, as always, you have a knack for shedding a very diplomatic light on these sorts of events!

[TURNERob]

The news statement said the lion fled through a wrought iron gate, not over it. Either way, why would the lion choose to go through/over their fence unless there was a good reason. I don't think it was just bored

So let's say the guy didn't go out there and shoot the lion and he called the police. I'm sure the police would call DFG to handle it. Would DFG just have shot the lion with a tranquilizer gun, and returned it back to the wildnerness somewhere far away from the houses? Or would they have just shot and killed it anyway? That is what I want to know.

[ECOdork]

Can we ever know for sure, FXRob???

I'm not familiar with the Cali Fish and Game (but I have worked with Texas Parks and Wildlife) but it has been my experience that the majority of people who work in such fields are there because of a deep love, appreciation, and respect for wildlife and nature.

[~ Pakiha ~]

On ABC news last night they quoted this retired police officer saying that he felt he needed to do something because there was an elementary school in close proximity and his daughter had just finished walking home. He knew there were more kids walking home as well, he didn't intend to just go out there and shoot it.
He said, "I grabbed my gun and as I looked back, I'm looking about 20 feet, 15 feet from this cat and it sees me, crouches down, bares its teeth," he said. "I don't hear any growling or anything and at that time it started to move and I just instinctively cranked off two rounds at it." [Associated Press]
Having known many police officers grabbing your gun before entering a potentially dangerous situation is instinct. I personally think it was an unfortunate incident of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am glad however that it wasn't a story of another biker found mangled by a cat.

[Schecky]

As far as the fence - What they showed on the news was a wooden fence with about 10" of board missing, not anything made of iron.

[TURNERob]

Originally Posted by Schecky

As far as the fence - What they showed on the news was a wooden fence with about 10" of board missing, not anything made of iron.

I was just quoting what the article said, but either way I think the lion would have been shot wether it was by the home owner, police or DFG.

Interesting point though schecky, wonder if the home owners fence was like that for sometime. You would think living right next to the CNF and having kids you'd want your fence to be intact to keep coyotes/bobcats or whatever animal out of your yard

Originally Posted by ~ Pakiha ~

On ABC news last night they quoted this retired police officer saying that he felt he needed to do something because there was an elementary school in close proximity and his daughter had just finished walking home. He knew there were more kids walking home as well, he didn't intend to just go out there and shoot it.
He said, "I grabbed my gun and as I looked back, I'm looking about 20 feet, 15 feet from this cat and it sees me, crouches down, bares its teeth," he said. "I don't hear any growling or anything and at that time it started to move and I just instinctively cranked off two rounds at it." [Associated Press]
Having known many police officers grabbing your gun before entering a potentially dangerous situation is instinct. I personally think it was an unfortunate incident of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am glad however that it wasn't a story of another biker found mangled by a cat.

Attempting to ensure the safety of elementary school kids is a legitimate reason to shoot a wild animal.