Possible Kitty Sighting on Borrego (7/21)

Just thought I'd give a heads up. I went to ride Whiting this morning (9:00 a.m.) and a couple of ladies walking their dog came out warning that they had spotted a big kitty back on Borrego. They called the ranger. Since I was solo I decided go hit up Aliso instead. I needed to scout a route for an upcoming Sierra Club hike over there anyways.

If I was with blindman and dakit it would not have been a big deal. You don't have to be faster than the mountain line/bear/etc. just faster than . . .

 

Thanks, I'll be sure to check my camera battery.

 

Rode there last night with the hubby - have had some BIG rustling in the bushes before. My issue in the 'dog' = kitty attractions, and there is a rule against them, with a big fine attached. I usually let them know about the $200 fine for having a dog inside the park.

 

Umm yeah if they followed the rules and didn't bring a dog in there it probably wouldn't have approached.

The last two weeks I rode Whiting there was a ranger out with his IR camera taking pictures of a big cat, so I'm thinking it was sitting pretty close to the trails in the brush.

 

Makes me think of the kids who walk the goats on a leash through Santiago Oaks...yikes...not a good plan...might as well dress them up like waiters / waitresses...

 

Hey, that's my kid. Won't matter until next year - goats are at the fair now and go to auction on Sunday.

 

Just run up and hug them. All they need is love.

 

Definitely freaked me out a bit. I did a Google search to see what to do in case attacked and one of the pages linked on the first page of the Google results was a lion attack in Whiting in 2004. Killing one and oing serious damage to another. I never heard about that.

 

Kevin, haven't you ridden up to the bench from 4 corners? The bench is a memorial for Mark Reynolds.

 

You can ride up to Mark Reynold's memorial bench up passed four corners in Whiting Ranch. Mark was killed by the mountain lion. I used to see mountain lion sighting signs in Whiting almost every other ride.
As for the "noises in the bushes", most of those are birds, squirrels and rabbits.
I have NOT seen deer lately so I'm wondering if the lion may be coming in closer to find deer. Last year I was seeing deer every ride.

 

Me too. Have not seen even one this year - last year there was a herd lead by a buck missing half his rack, usually had 4-5 females hanging with him.

 

I dunno who the bigger pussy is, the guys that shot it or the cat.

Really!?! You never heard about that?

 

Which trail is the bench on?

 

Thanks for the heads up. A few days ago, I rode whiting ranch. I saw a young deer right around Sleepy Hollow trail. I cannot tell if there are more around. This was my first time to see deer in Whiting for over a year. Someone I met on the trail once told me they built fence on some areas. Is this correct?

 

If it makes noise, it is prey. Predators are generally silent (or very unsucessful).

 

That's an easy call, the big tough guy shooter.

 

Up Mustard to the top, turn right not left to the shack, head around the bend, hard left up the hill. It's on the top of dreaded - you can almost see it from the shack at 4 corners.

I usually climb up to the bench for a little extra then turn around and head back to the shack before going down.

 

Come to think of it, your right. I did see a Doe and her two little ones about 3 weeks ago hoping up Edison Rd, and a couple along Serrono. But that's all I've seen in months.

I would love to see a big cat, from a distance of course and preferably on a trail further from houses.

 

I saw a deer yesterday in Whiting.
I heard a noise, turned and the Doe was running off.