Mountain Lion at Whiting

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by BigTex, Jul 10, 2012.

  1. genusmtbkr5

    genusmtbkr5 STR Moderator

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    If you are referring to the Mark Reynolds incident, it was Cactus. Sleepy Hollow wasn't open then. The recent sighting was on Serrano Cow which has been closed for now and not on Sleepy Hollow as 1st reported.
     
  2. Hotchkiss

    Hotchkiss human being

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    I'm telling rangers if I see a big cat in whiting. It's not "forest" anymore. It's a big U shaped green belt in the middle of a neighborhood. Yes it sucks that we've encroached on thier habitat, but to not let rangers (who than post official notices for the rest of us) know is unthinking.
     
  3. dirtvert

    dirtvert Whine on!

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  4. dirtmistress

    dirtmistress AKA Roadiemistress

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    I know it's not a forest. I guess I should have said open space or something.
    Don't those trails already have mountain lion warning signs though? As well as tick and rattlesnake warnings?
    It's a responsibility of back country/forest/jungle/open space/green belt users to know the risks and hazards before entering the area and to be prepared.

    That lion is dead anyway and it was also sick if I remember correctly.
     
  5. emejay

    emejay most annoying avatar

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    Thanks for the reply...I have heard the heart attack theory before. To me, it seems dropping a chain on a technical section and having to stop and bend over to fix it and therefore more vulnerable to attack, is more prevalent and plausible scenario than a 35 year old (bike racer???) having a heart attack, but both still possible. I often ride through there and wondered if it was a steep or technical section where the incident occured, making the dropped chain theory a greater possibility.
     
  6. mytrustysteed

    mytrustysteed Middle...the new granny

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    Doesn't negate the fact that Anne was attacked by the same lion moments later. The lion attempted to drag her away while her friend held on to her feet. Bottom line is we are in their world and need to know the risks when we are there.
     
  7. grimix

    grimix New Member

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    Bottom line is we are in each others world and they need to know the risks when they are there
     
  8. genusmtbkr5

    genusmtbkr5 STR Moderator

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    Exactly Liz. Some of the riders who saw this lion, many of which you and I know including OMR didn't think this lion was at all behaving normally and could also be sick. First it jumps out in front of a rider on Sunday, then didn't scatter away even when 15+ riders approached the next day on Monday.

    After the Mark and Anne attacks, the rangers will error on the side of caution especially when there's an elementary school and park/playground just up the slope from Whiting.
     
  9. limey

    limey New Member

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    More nervous about rattlesnakes than mountain lions at Whiting

    While trying to avoid this friendly rattlesnake at Whiting I actually fell right next to it! My buddy said I was running before I hit the ground. It was obscured by the tree shading and I didn't see it until I was right on top of it.
    snake.JPG
     
  10. McG715

    McG715 Active Member

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    Classic.. hey at least he didn't take off running after you.. which trail? Is that on Mustard somewhere :)
     
  11. McG715

    McG715 Active Member

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    To me a potentially sick animal (not acting "normal") is all the more reason to be cautious.. I don't know big cats, so I don't feel I know what normal is, but I'm assuming normal is not being seen during daylight hours for the most part and hunting at night.. I have no problem with people feeling they have no reason to fear a mtn lion.. watching them up close in zoo at Irvine Park, if one of those lions charged that group of 15 riders considering he wasn't feeling well and not thinking properly, he would do some major damage to a few people who have no shot at getting away quickly enough.. I've encountered numerous rattlers and coyotes and never worried.. if I came face to face unexpectedly with an 80lb cat, I might $hit myself.. just sayin..
     
  12. bikerider

    bikerider New Member

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    I guess it's all what you and the park are comfortable with. If they closed Whistler everytime somebody saw a bear, then it would never be ridden. Bear attacks like mountain happen but are rare. I'm ok with the park being cautious. I rode there on Wednesday and came in from Concourse park. There was a group of hikers ready to run for their cars once they read the sign. It was a little comical.
     
  13. profnachos

    profnachos Member

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    What Greg said. I would leave it up to the professionals to decide what to do in this case and let them use their discretion.
     
  14. dstepper

    dstepper (R.I.P.) Over the hill

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    I could care less about me, it does not bother me being around them. My point is that Whitting borders peoples back yard, yards with toddlers. Kids walking with there parents in the park. Cats are opportunists and will jump a fence to get a kid or grab a unattended child. Have you forgot about what happened years back in Caspers when the cat got that little girl then the little boy walking with her familys.

    I have lost at least a dozen farm animals and two cattle dogs to cats, some livestock just killed and never eaten. How many of your pets have you lost to lions Liz?

    http://articles.latimes.com/1986-10-20/news/mn-6411_1_mountain-lion-attack boy age 6
    http://articles.latimes.com/1986-04-15/local/me-4888_1_lion-attack girl age 5
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 13, 2012
  15. dirtmistress

    dirtmistress AKA Roadiemistress

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    I've met people that have lost pets to mountain lions, you included. I know people that have had dogs taken right under their noses by coyotes and Lauren escorted an older woman out of Cheseboro one evening that was being followed by coyotes as she walked her little dog.
    I haven't lost any pets to lions or coyotes. Where I live, we have to worry about opportunistic dog thieves that grab and sell the dogs for a quick buck.
    If I lived in the place occupied by predators, I'd do what I could to secure my animals and keep them safe . Not much else I can do.
     
  16. DyeFoo

    DyeFoo New Member

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    So how long do they close the trail for when this happens? Borrega is probably the only trail I like riding in whiting.

    Oops sorry meant to say riding Sleepy hollow through live oak*
     
  17. guero

    guero iFroth

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    we rode whiting this morning, and all trails were open. :)
     
  18. HardtailBlazer

    HardtailBlazer Member

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    thanks for the update! I called earlier today to make sure..but didnt get to talk to anyone!
     
  19. ebenke

    ebenke Member

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    It is ridiculous to close a trail due to a Mtn Lion sighting. A half hour after the sighting he was well on his way to pick some biker struggling on Mustard. :)


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk (sucks)
     
  20. McG715

    McG715 Active Member

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    The Whiting Ranch Mtn Lion sightings continue.. apparently

    This comment below was posted by David Whiting. The comment was in response to his recent Mountain Lion article in the Register
    http://www.ocregister.com/articles/mountain-363896-lion-lions.html


    I just received this email: Yesterday, July 15th, I was running in Whiting Ranch and encountered a coyote that was clearly in distress. It allowed me to pass by - it didn't even seem to notice me. I mentioned this to two other hikers who decided to check it out. They saw the coyote and started recording it. While recording, a mountain lion walked across the trail, between them and the coyote. He has it all on video. This was on Line Shack, but the cougar tracks are all over the park. We're wondering if the coyote had a litter that was being attacked or in danger of being attacked by the mountain lion. I'm just relieved the cougar didn't chase after me when I ran past it. It apparently had no interest in the other hikers either.

     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 16, 2012

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