Mtn Lion Sightings

[surlygal]

Hello all-

Frank emailed this to Neil today, I thought I'd post it to give everyone a heads up..Stay safe!


[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]Hey gang, please read carefully……..there have been a lot of recent sightings at Whiting Ranch……[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]This was sent from a Trail Angel yesterday....[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]I recently (last week) started a serious training program. My goal: [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]8 hour of Idyllwild in September (for fun), then complete the Vision [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]Quest, with a bit of time cut off from this year. So, I now have a [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]strict schedule of what I ride each day. Today was my recovery day, [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]about an hour of mtn biking on relatively flat terrain.[/FONT][/SIZE]

[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]Flat terrain? Where can I find that? Well, I thought, the end of [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]Whiting Ranch is just perfect. I could ride from John's house [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial](corner of El Toro/Portola), enter off of Portola, ride the fire [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]road up and loop around the last single track. What could be more [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]perfect than that? Being that this is a recovery ride, with [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]standard low Hr, I didn't think to post, as who would be [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]interested?!?![/FONT][/SIZE]

[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]Entering into the park, I saw the typical mtn lion sighting sign; [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]the last sightings were 6/12 and 6/16. I thought, hmm, 6/16 seems [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]recent (not having worked for the past 5 days, I lost track of the [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]date). But, there have been more sightings around and we all know [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]there is plenty of food (lately, I have seen no less than 6 deer in [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]Whiting on each of my rides).[/FONT][/SIZE]

[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]I started thinking...if I was a mtn lion, I don't think I'd want to [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]eat me...just to be sure, I wasn't going to stop anywhere and I said [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]a little prayer. I glanced over to the single track I was to ride [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]and was reminded of its beauty with the glowing streams of sunlight [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]dancing across the serene, empty trail--one of my favorite [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]singletracks, for that very reason. [/FONT][/SIZE]

[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]A few minutes into my ride, I came across the entrance to the single [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]track. For the first time on my short ride, I wasn't alone. There [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]was a ranger truck blocking the fire road that I had just riden up, [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]along with another mtn biker sitting next to her. I pulled out my [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]earphones as I slid between the truck and entrance, "everything [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]okay?"[/FONT][/SIZE]

[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]The ranger looked over and said, "nope, there's a mtn lion with a [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]fresh kill over there. I just flushed him out from the trail (she [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]pointed behind her--the trail I had just gone up), and he headed up [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]to the singletrack. He has a male deer up on the ridge, on top of [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]the trail. So, I don't advise that either of you head that way".[/FONT][/SIZE]

[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]I quickly made friends with the other mtn biker, then John and I [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]headed out Line Shack. His bear bell rang out as we climbed; we [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]both hoped that would clear our path, as we rode up a few more hills [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]than either of us had planned on. I consider both of us lucky for [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]ending that ride and having the priveledge of calling it [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]uneventful. [/FONT][/SIZE]

[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]And, if anyone sees John out there, on his red and white Haro, or [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]hears his white bear bell ringing out, please take a moment to say [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]hi and thank him again, for riding out with me.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]This was sent to me today....[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]FYI Ladies.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]



[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]This is Doug. All you runners out there...Laura just told me that when running in the neighborhood Fri AM around 4:45, she turned out of the development and up Ridgeline across from the Fire Station and came face to face (about 25 feet) with a Mountain lion.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]



[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]It was standing on the little ledge above the Portola Hills sign brick wall sign.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]



[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]She had Krypto the psycho Boxer with her but the Lion stared at them both and Krypto was disinclined to engage (unusual for him as he engages semis and yard art).[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]



[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]She made herself big with her jacket, yelled, and backed away.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]



[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][FONT=Arial]Forewarned is forearmed.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]

[project_d]

My closest friend, with whom I would MTB with on an almost daily basis, recently moved away. So, I've been riding by myself early mornings. We would ride Aliso most of the time, but I've now been riding Whiting Ranch by myself in the mornings.

I know that we've had a record low rainfall, and because of that, I have seen more and more deer on these trails looking for food. I've been getting nervous, because the deer are coming down for food, and they are a mountain lion's "breakfast of champions", so it's only a matter of time before the mountain lions come down too. ALSO, it was, what, 4 or 5 years ago that Mark Reynolds (?) was killed?

Anyways, I won't go there solo for quite a while. Thanks for the post Surlygal!!!

[PacMan]

Originally Posted by project_d

ALSO, it was, what, 4 or 5 years ago that Mark Reynolds (?) was killed?

January of '04 I believe, so just over 3 years ago. I remember it was just after Christmas, the first year I started riding riding.

[maxwell]

Thanks for the heads up.
I ride Whiting early mornings (6-6:30am start) after work, always by myself.
I always see lots of deer, and figure that between me and the deer for food, the couger will choose chasing down the deer, since they're natural prey.
I'd better throw the bear bell back on the bike.

[ThinkFast]

What time of day was the first sighting?

I saw a dead juvenile Mt. Lion a few weeks back on Santiago Canyon Rd. I was doing the luge loop around 7AM on a Saturday and it was just past the housing development on the right hand side as you ride up past Cooks Corner towards STT. It had been hit by a car.

Thanks for the heads up.

[Waldo]

I live very close to Whiting and normally ride it a couple times per week. Lately I have definitely been seeing plenty of deer - a couple have scared the crap outta me by running across the trail right in front of me. A few days ago I was approaching the base of Dreaded when I heard something crashing through the brush. Normally I'd assume it was a deer, but whatever this was it didn't seem to be scared by my making noise. Needless to say, I altered my course and got out of there. Never saw what it was.

If anyone's looking for a riding partner at Whiting or the surrounding area (Live Oak, STT, HTT, Blackstar, etc), hit me up. I usually ride a couple times midweek, usually around 6pm but sometimes also in the morning.

[surlygal]

Originally Posted by ThinkFast

What time of day was the first sighting?

I don't know, and it doesn't say...Maybe if Franks reading this or someone else who knows this gal could shed some light on a time frame?

[OMR]

Originally Posted by surlygal

I don't know, and it doesn't say...Maybe if Franks reading this or someone else who knows this gal could shed some light on a time frame?

I believe the original article was written by our own Wrecker... ask her. In fact, I believe she posted this on the STR boards.

OMR

[surlygal]

Originally Posted by mtber3737

I believe the original article was written by our own Wrecker... ask her. In fact, I believe she posted this on the STR boards.

OMR

Thanks for the info. That's what I get for not reading every post...

Here's Wrecker's original post from last evening...My Lucky Day

[project_d]

Originally Posted by maxwell

I'd better throw the bear bell back on the bike.

I was thinking the same thing. Bells aren't just for Santa Barbara and Mt. Lowe anymore.

[icon]

whats a bear bell? Nevermind. but does it work?

[dubjay]

Originally Posted by icon

whats a bear bell? Nevermind. but does it work?

It's basically a bell that makes noise as you ride along so that animals hear you coming and don't get startled and freak out. It gives them time to run away...at least..that's what is supposed to happen.

[Bergsteiger]

I know there are plenty of Cougars in Whiting, but has anyone ever seen one at Aliso? I always see plenty of deer on Coyote run, but have not seen anything bigger then a Bobcat. I would like to keep it that way also.

BTW. I am all for the bells, not only great for animals, but for others coming down the trail, saved my hide plenty in blind corners.

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by Bergsteiger

I know there are plenty of Cougars in Whiting, but has anyone ever seen one at Aliso? I always see plenty of deer on Coyote run, but have not seen anything bigger then a Bobcat. I would like to keep it that way also.

BTW. I am all for the bells, not only great for animals, but for others coming down the trail, saved my hide plenty in blind corners.

Yes there is a female that is at Aliso from what I was told by 1 of the rangers. No recent sightings.

[Chopper]

Originally Posted by maxwell

I'd better throw the bear bell back on the bike.

So if anyone sees a pile of cat scat on the trail with a bell in it, we'll know what happended to Maxwell.

[Wrecker]

It's my understanding, from the ranger that day, that they have been tracking this mtn lion for a few weeks. There have been a few tracks throughout as well as on Line Shack (I didn't know that until John and I were heading up--that's when he told me).

Funny, as I was riding in, I thought that the lion would chose a deer over me
Good thing for that deer

[maxwell]

Originally Posted by icon

whats a bear bell? Nevermind. but does it work?

KONA Bear Bells........
$13 at The Path



They work great, as far as letting other riders and trail users know you're comming.
I'm not sure about how it works for the lions & bears, but I haven't been attacked yet!

[bobzrag]

I've got one of these bear bells, it's great when you are riding single track or areas with a lot of hikers, but when I'm riding along it sounds more like a freakin' dinner bell than anything else!

Originally Posted by dubjay

It's basically a bell that makes noise as you ride along so that animals hear you coming and don't get startled and freak out. It gives them time to run away...at least..that's what is supposed to happen.