Mountain Lion?

[hbpedals]

I ride El Moro/LWC about 3x per week. I always ride alone there and have always felt safe doing so. Lately I have found 2 huge droppings in the middle of trails. The first was last week on Willow Fireroad. It was so fresh it was practically steaming. At the top near Bommer Ridge I saw some very large tracks in the sand - I don't know what they were but they were really big. I started bringing my camera with me in case I found any more.

This morning I found this on El Morro Ridge . It's not as big as the one I found on Willow but it's older. I used my shoe for scale - I wear size 12 - this is a big doo-doo.

So - could it be a large bobcat?

[Jordansrealm]

If you take a pic of the tracks we could identify the source. This could easily just be from someone walking their dog.

[tbowren]

Good thing you didn't step in it!!!

Could have been someone walking their dog. Who knows.

I heard some strange sounds in the bushes there on Monday and 5 minutes later saw the warning sign posted. Freaked me out a bit, but it could have been anything.

Just keep moving, and hope you don't fall at the wrong place at the wrong time.

[hbpedals]

The first wet dropping I attributed to possible dog but I'm pretty sure this one is not a dog. Too much hair in it unless it's a coyote (which it could be - I'm no poo technitian). Besides, dogs are illegal in the park. I know ppl bring them in anyway - especially along Bommer but this was right near Lower Moro Campground.

As far as tracks . . I didn't see any this time. The trail is pretty packed in this spot.


Here's a closer look if it helps.


BTW - I also saw a deer this morning at the bottom of Emerald Canyon. Only the second one I've seen in about 6 months of regular riding at El Moro. If there are any lions I guess they'll be hungry . . . or full of bunnies.

I'm bringing my camera with me from now on so if I see any more large tracks I'll be able to get pics of them.

[vandyketom]

Check the SCAT photos in the SRP ride report from last Saturday.

[Rockinthecasbah]

may be, i found scat there with lion tracks around it, look for the "M" big pad and no claw marks

[DISCO]

Yeah, sorry about that. The rabbit fur just wasn't agreeing with me.

[kevinator]

Looks like things are firming up.

[Rkoa63]

Boy am I embarrassed, I thought I dug the hole deep enough to cover it. My appologies.

Originally Posted by hbpedals

The first wet dropping I attributed to possible dog but I'm pretty sure this one is not a dog. Too much hair in it unless it's a coyote (which it could be - I'm no poo technitian). Besides, dogs are illegal in the park. I know ppl bring them in anyway - especially along Bommer but this was right near Lower Moro Campground.

As far as tracks . . I didn't see any this time. The trail is pretty packed in this spot.


Here's a closer look if it helps.


BTW - I also saw a deer this morning at the bottom of Emerald Canyon. Only the second one I've seen in about 6 months of regular riding at El Moro. If there are any lions I guess they'll be hungry . . . or full of bunnies.

I'm bringing my camera with me from now on so if I see any more large tracks I'll be able to get pics of them.

[silkworm]

unless your less that 4' tall, hunched over, and alone you shouldn't really have to worry about lions or any other wild animal in southern california. there is really nothing out there that would risk attacking an adult human.

the most dangerous animal out there is probably the rattlesnake, and even if you were to get bit by one chances are it won't inject venom unless it plans on eating you which is just downright silly

that said you should not go out there unprepared or try to pet mountain lion cubs like that douche did a few weeks back in the oc or **** with rattlesnakes...

bottom line, be careful out there respect nature and it will respect you.

[Chopper]

Bobcat scat is much larger than you would imagine. I found some very large scat in the Irvine Open Space recently and it was positively identified as Bobcat. It was appox. 9" long and as big as a Red Bull can in circumference.
For little guys they can produce some huge poop.

[kevinator]

Originally Posted by Chopper

Bobcat scat is much larger than you would imagine. I found some very large scat in the Irvine Open Space recently and it was positively identified as Bobcat. It was appox. 9" long and as big as a Red Bull can in circumference.
For little guys they can produce some huge poop.

They must be the ones plugging the toilets here at work.

[HardCharger]

I thought all cats dig holes and cover the scat... Wouldnt a mt lion do the same?

Probably a coyote, I've seen them on various trails at El Moro. One time I was going up I Think I Can and two coyotes were trotting infront of me. Man they stunk

[hbpedals]

Originally Posted by silkworm

unless your less that 4' tall, hunched over, and alone you shouldn't really have to worry about lions or any other wild animal in southern california. there is really nothing out there that would risk attacking an adult human.

the most dangerous animal out there is probably the rattlesnake, and even if you were to get bit by one chances are it won't inject venom unless it plans on eating you which is just downright silly

that said you should not go out there unprepared or try to pet mountain lion cubs like that douche did a few weeks back in the oc or **** with rattlesnakes...

bottom line, be careful out there respect nature and it will respect you.

I totally want to believe that but I am not so sure. I have read about at least 2 attacks of bikers by lions. One, of course, is Mark Reynolds although I am not so sure the lion killed him (some say he may have had a heart attack. I am not sure). The other was Scott Fike, a 27 year old cyclist who was attacked and bitten while riding near Mt Lowe in 1995.

OTOH, I guess I do fit the description of less than 4 feet tall, hunched over and alone while riding at El Moro.

I plan to keep riding El Moro alone for the time being and all . . . I am just going to pay extra attention to droppings, tracks, steer clear of circling buzzards, etc. I am pretty sure I think these droppings are from bobcats which, I am told, get huge in LCWP.

[mr.plow]

the real test is the taste. next time, swosh a little piece around in your mouth. if it tastes like alpo, its probably a dog. if it tastes like squire, it might be a lion.

[silkworm]

Originally Posted by hbpedals

I totally want to believe that but I am not so sure. I have read about at least 2 attacks of bikers by lions. One, of course, is Mark Reynolds although I am not so sure the lion killed him (some say he may have had a heart attack. I am not sure). The other was Scott Fike, a 27 year old cyclist who was attacked and bitten while riding near Mt Lowe in 1995.

OTOH, I guess I do fit the description of less than 4 feet tall, hunched over and alone while riding at El Moro.

I plan to keep riding El Moro alone for the time being and all . . . I am just going to pay extra attention to droppings, tracks, steer clear of circling buzzards, etc. I am pretty sure I think these droppings are from bobcats which, I am told, get huge in LCWP.

statistics man, that attack was in 1995...its 2008. think about it, your more likley to kill yourself by crashing your mountain bike than being the 1 dude every 10 years that gets attacked by a mountain lion...

that said, i carry a four inch folding blade in a letherman multi tool on my camelbak strap...i'm not going down without a fight, haha

[DISCO]

Originally Posted by HardCharger

I thought all cats dig holes and cover the scat... Wouldnt a mt lion do the same?

Probably a coyote, I've seen them on various trails at El Moro. One time I was going up I Think I Can and two coyotes were trotting infront of me. Man they stunk

Not a Coyote, their scat looks like berries and is not all tubular. Don't have my Boy scout guide handy for reference but doubt that it's from the Canis branch. Could be Bobcat, they are much less shy than pumas. And no they don't dig holes, just like bears and horses they drop where they please. Cougars are easier to detect than Bobcats if you are downwind, but they are hip enough to out maneuver without your knowledge. Bobcats on the other hand roll like Slim Shady and just flip ya the bird and keep rolling.

One species no one has yet speculated is the Gray Fox, I have seen some in residence in Bommer but they are even more reclusive than the big cats. Seeing as how they are more diminutive than coyotes this would have to be a Thanksgiving style feast for that logic to hold true.

[davemw]

I would say yes.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2155858_id-m...lion-poop.html
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...US248%26sa%3DN

[mtnbkr818]

It looks like mr haney the christmas poo.

[dirtyjeff]

Bigfoot ? just throwin it out there