Multiple mountain lions spotted this summer
They've been sighted all over the Central Coast this summer — in a residential backyard in San Luis Obispo, near Oso Flaco Lake north of Guadalupe and at a Solvang park.
But since there is no way to track mountain lions in the area or the number of credible sightings, officials say they don't know whether the number of sightings is average or above normal.
"We can't tag them or keep track of them. We don't record the number of sightings because it could end up being another type of animal. Only about one out of 10 times it's actually a mountain lion sighting," said Andrew Hughan, a representative with the California Department of Fish and Game.
The department maintains the state's wildlife, including mountain lions, even though local law enforcement and animal services personnel are called in to assist when there is a danger to the public.
Mountain lion habitat covers about 90 percent of both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, and more than half of the state, according to Fish and Game.
Typically, the huge cats can be found wherever there are deer — their primary prey. If they are attacking pets or livestock, a property owner can kill a mountain lion after obtaining a depredation permit from Fish and Game.
But they cannot be hunted because they are a specially protected mammal in California, according to the department.
Also known as cougars, pumas or panthers depending on the region, mountain lions are closely related to smaller felines and are quiet, solitary and elusive.
So solitary that there has only been one recorded attack on a human on the Central Coast in the last 100 years. It was a non-fatal incident involving a 9-year-old boy at Gaviota State Park in Santa Barbara County in 1992, according to Fish and Game records.
But Fish and Game officials do warn that as California's human population expands more deeply into mountain lion habitat, the potential for conflict increases.
One incident that occurred this summer involved a Guadalupe man who was walking with his family on the dirt path toward Oso Flaco Lake, and was told that some other hikers spotted a mountain lion and its cub in the brush.
"It was kinda scary. I know they're big. I know what they're capable of. I was just really concerned because of all the families we saw on the trail with little, tiny kids," said Anthony Castellanos.
In late August, two hikers reported seeing a mountain lion climbing down a tree near the tennis courts in Hans Christian Andersen Park in Solvang. The reported sighting of the wild cat was the third in the same month.
In another incident this summer, police officers shot and killed an adult mountain lion in San Luis Obispo after a tranquilizer dart failed to stop it. The mountain lion was crouched 15 feet up a tree in the backyard of a San Luis Obispo home in early June.
Fish and Game representatives said the only record kept by the department with regard to mountain lions is the number of depredation permits issued per county and the number of lions killed under the authority of a permit.
Between 1972 and 2009, 82 mountain lions were killed in San Luis Obispo County and 41 were killed in Santa Barbara County.
"People who see them should consider themselves lucky," said SLO County Animal Services manager Eric Anderson. "Most people never get to see such a majestic animal in its natural environment. And usually in their habitat, the animals move away, and there's no issue."
Central Coast residents have spotted what appear to be mountain lions or been alerted to their presence for years, according to newspaper reports.
In 2009, an Orcutt woman spotted one carrying an opossum, while leaping over her backyard fence. And in 2004, another one was sighted in Old Town Orcutt.
There were three mountain lion sightings in six weeks at La Purisima Mission State Park in the summer of 2006, and that same year a mountain lion was seen on the playground at Los Berros Elementary School in the Mission Hills area near Lompoc before school started one day.
In 2005, a mountain lion clawed four miniature donkeys in Lompoc, but the little animals fought back and sustained minor injuries in the encounter.
Mountain lions that threaten people are immediately killed, Fish and Game officials said, because moving problem cougars to other locations can result in deadly conflicts, or the animal will return.
"Any time we get to encounter wildlife in their natural habitat, we should be grateful, but exercise general precautions," Anderson said.
If you see a mountain lion don't run, instead stand tall and make yourself look bigger by pulling wide a jacket or loose shirt, and making loud noises. Throw rocks or other objects and pick up small children.
Fight back if you are attacked.
To report a mountain lion sighting call 9-1-1 or contact the local Fish and Game office at (559) 243-4005 (559) 243-4005 for San Luis Obispo County. In Santa Barbara County call (858) 467-4201 (858) 467-4201 .
For more information from Fish and Game visit http://www.dfg.ca/.gov/news/issues/lion
But since there is no way to track mountain lions in the area or the number of credible sightings, officials say they don't know whether the number of sightings is average or above normal.
"We can't tag them or keep track of them. We don't record the number of sightings because it could end up being another type of animal. Only about one out of 10 times it's actually a mountain lion sighting," said Andrew Hughan, a representative with the California Department of Fish and Game.
The department maintains the state's wildlife, including mountain lions, even though local law enforcement and animal services personnel are called in to assist when there is a danger to the public.
Mountain lion habitat covers about 90 percent of both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, and more than half of the state, according to Fish and Game.
Typically, the huge cats can be found wherever there are deer — their primary prey. If they are attacking pets or livestock, a property owner can kill a mountain lion after obtaining a depredation permit from Fish and Game.
But they cannot be hunted because they are a specially protected mammal in California, according to the department.
Also known as cougars, pumas or panthers depending on the region, mountain lions are closely related to smaller felines and are quiet, solitary and elusive.
So solitary that there has only been one recorded attack on a human on the Central Coast in the last 100 years. It was a non-fatal incident involving a 9-year-old boy at Gaviota State Park in Santa Barbara County in 1992, according to Fish and Game records.
But Fish and Game officials do warn that as California's human population expands more deeply into mountain lion habitat, the potential for conflict increases.
One incident that occurred this summer involved a Guadalupe man who was walking with his family on the dirt path toward Oso Flaco Lake, and was told that some other hikers spotted a mountain lion and its cub in the brush.
"It was kinda scary. I know they're big. I know what they're capable of. I was just really concerned because of all the families we saw on the trail with little, tiny kids," said Anthony Castellanos.
In late August, two hikers reported seeing a mountain lion climbing down a tree near the tennis courts in Hans Christian Andersen Park in Solvang. The reported sighting of the wild cat was the third in the same month.
In another incident this summer, police officers shot and killed an adult mountain lion in San Luis Obispo after a tranquilizer dart failed to stop it. The mountain lion was crouched 15 feet up a tree in the backyard of a San Luis Obispo home in early June.
Fish and Game representatives said the only record kept by the department with regard to mountain lions is the number of depredation permits issued per county and the number of lions killed under the authority of a permit.
Between 1972 and 2009, 82 mountain lions were killed in San Luis Obispo County and 41 were killed in Santa Barbara County.
"People who see them should consider themselves lucky," said SLO County Animal Services manager Eric Anderson. "Most people never get to see such a majestic animal in its natural environment. And usually in their habitat, the animals move away, and there's no issue."
Central Coast residents have spotted what appear to be mountain lions or been alerted to their presence for years, according to newspaper reports.
In 2009, an Orcutt woman spotted one carrying an opossum, while leaping over her backyard fence. And in 2004, another one was sighted in Old Town Orcutt.
There were three mountain lion sightings in six weeks at La Purisima Mission State Park in the summer of 2006, and that same year a mountain lion was seen on the playground at Los Berros Elementary School in the Mission Hills area near Lompoc before school started one day.
In 2005, a mountain lion clawed four miniature donkeys in Lompoc, but the little animals fought back and sustained minor injuries in the encounter.
Mountain lions that threaten people are immediately killed, Fish and Game officials said, because moving problem cougars to other locations can result in deadly conflicts, or the animal will return.
"Any time we get to encounter wildlife in their natural habitat, we should be grateful, but exercise general precautions," Anderson said.
If you see a mountain lion don't run, instead stand tall and make yourself look bigger by pulling wide a jacket or loose shirt, and making loud noises. Throw rocks or other objects and pick up small children.
Fight back if you are attacked.
To report a mountain lion sighting call 9-1-1 or contact the local Fish and Game office at (559) 243-4005 (559) 243-4005 for San Luis Obispo County. In Santa Barbara County call (858) 467-4201 (858) 467-4201 .
For more information from Fish and Game visit http://www.dfg.ca/.gov/news/issues/lion
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