Mountain Lion at El Moro

[rjcsocal]

Spending six years in the Marine Corps helps me keep a cool head at times and taught me not to be an alarmist, but I feel as though I should post my experience this afternoon.

I went out for a quick ride at El Moro this afternoon and was riding along Moro Ridge, heading from Fenceline to I Think I can and had a mountain lion cross my path. I just crested the hill by the camp site and was heading down the tarmac section when a cat mosied across the trail 30 yards ahead of me. Now I've seen a bob cat several times on the other side by Deer Canyon and Rattle Snake, but this was too long -- took up too much of the trail as it crossed -- and crossed with too much confidence to be a bob cat.

I don't think I realized that it was a mountain lion until I was well down the trail -- maybe a little quicker than normal. I went down to the ranger station at the park entrance. There were a couple of guys grabbing gear out of a truck -- not rangers -- and I told them about it and they told me they found a mangled deer carcass a couple of days ago that was "pretty tore up". I went ahead in and told the ranger at the window. She took down my info and didn't say anything else.

It's the first mountain lion sighting for me in El Moro; probably nothing to get too excited about. I thought I would pass it along.

 

[freezy562]

That sounds like something to be excited about to me. I'm sure I'm way tastier than deer. 8(

 

[back of the pack]

Anything is possible

We were in El Moro this afternoon and saw the biggest and healthiest coyote I have seen going up Ticketron, he was almost as big as this cat.

 

[El Rey]

Going to El Moro tomorrow for the first time. THANKS one more thing to think about

 

[El Immigrante]

I carry a spring assisted 5" knife with me and a dagger when I hit The Gabes and OC trails...haven't seen anything here in the Santa Claritas or Santa Monicas but did hear about mountain lion sightings at La Tuna.

 

[bvader]

Am TAVing tomorrow, will sniff around
Gorns have a good sense of smell

 

[merc13000]

I always wonder what it would feel like to see one on the trails. I haven't seen one yet, but I think big cats are some of the most beautiful creatures out there. Pretty sure I would be freaking out though if one was 30 yards from me and not behind a zoo fence!

 

[mtnbikej]

I carry a spring assisted 5" knife with me and a dagger when I hit The Gabes and OC trails...haven't seen anything here in the Santa Claritas or Santa Monicas but did hear about mountain lion sightings at La Tuna.

How is life living in paranoia? 8-[

Just like the guys who carry guns for the same reason.

You have better odds at the Lottery or Lightning than being attacked by a mtn lion.

 

[art23rockpile]

How is life living in paranoia? 8-[

Just like the guys who carry guns for the same reason.

You have better odds at the Lottery or Lightning than being attacked by a mtn lion.

It's far better than living in ignorance, certainly.

Once, in the San Mateo Wilderness, I came across a hiker with a .45 auto on his side, walking his German Shepherd. He told me he's come across Mt. Lions there on four separate occasions. Hardly paranoia.

 

[Tedroy]

My homie has been "poaching" hikes up on Brown Mountain and El Prieto and saw a cat yesterday (12/9/10) on El P.

 

[Rumpled]

For those who are anti gun or knife; do you have a fire extinguisher or first aid kit in your house? Are you prepared, or paranoid?

 

[robmcd]

I havent seen them but I guarantee you that they have seen us. I also carry a small folding knife in my pocket as a precaution. I usually always ride with a group so I dont really sweat it.

 

[sasquatch9billion]

I carry a small blade in my pocket all the times. I wouldn't call it paranoia, I'm just prepared like a boy scout-and girls comment on it a lot
It comes in handy everywhere, except at bars with door guys. But, they usually just ask me to let them hold it 'til I walk out.
As far as big cats in El Morro,; I'm jealous. I've been hiking/biking there since I was eight and have never seen anything but deer and rabbits.

 

[robmcd]

I lived in El Morro (mobile home park) for 10 years and saw everything but Mountain Lions but I KNOW that they are there.

 

[stevers]

How is life living in paranoia? 8-[

Just like the guys who carry guns for the same reason.

You have better odds at the Lottery or Lightning than being attacked by a mtn lion.

My odds of winning the lotto are 0 if I never play. Conversely, your odds of being attacked by a mountain lion increase significantly if you're in the wilderness, alone, and in a known mountain lion territory. I don't have an quantitative numbers; I'm just sayin'. I bought bear mace for any type of mammal encounter, but I have no idea where to strap that bigass can.

On mountain lion preparedness... I've read that you should never run away, since it'll spark the cat's instinct to chase and attack. So when you encounter one, how do you know when it's safe to proceed along your way? Wouldn't any type of riding be seen as "running away?" Do you just stare it down until it's out of sight?

 

[Chopper]

Regarding the guns and knives, if those things make you feel safer then so be it. The fact is, a mountain lion can cover 100 yards in less than 4 seconds and almost always attacks from the rear. Personally I would fear a hiker with a gun more than a mountain lion. It's doubtful that the lion would kill you by accident.

 

[Pain Freak]

I've never known anyone who has won the lottery but I did have a friend attacked and ate by a mountain lion (Mark Reynolds). I don't think mountain bikers are paranoid, if they were, they probably would never ride. If a mountain lion, even a smaller one was to attack you'd more then likely never see it coming. I personally think it's a good idea to carry a knife I just don't know if you'd ever get the chance to use it.

Many years ago my sister saw a mountain lion at O'Neil park she told the rangers and they told us it was a bobcat 3 months later a little girl by the name of Laura Small was attacked and mauled.

Don't go into the wilderness thinking it can't happen to you,it can.

 

[Big Guy]

How is life living in paranoia? 8-[

Just like the guys who carry guns for the same reason.

You have better odds at the Lottery or Lightning than being attacked by a mtn lion.

I expect to be hit by lightning while the mountain lion attacks me, wounding the beast, I then give it the "coup de grace" by slicing its throat with the giant lottery check.

 

[MV Rider]

I don't care what anyone says, that's funny!

 

[bvader]

I am heading out...I will let you know if I don't come back.


I am much more wary of people than animals
Because animals are just animals
But people are sometimes people ... and sometimes animals...it can be hard to tell