By Jondi Gumz
State officials have posted signs about mountain lion safety at Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos after five purebred Boer goats were found slaughtered on private property near the state park.
The goats that were killed were valuable, prized for their meat.
The immature young male can fetch $1,200 and the doe $600.
Mountain lions are a specially protected species in California.
They cannot be hunted, and it is unlawful to take, injure, possess or transport a mountain lion without a permit from the state Department of Fish & Wildlife.
In this situation, Fish & Wildlife issued a non-lethal depredation permit for this mountain lion which allows non-lethal hazing, according to spokesman Ken Paglia.
Mountain lions have been protected since 1990, when California voters approved Proposition 117, the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990.
This proposition passed with a 52.4% yes vote.
The measure also created the Habitat Conservation Fund and appropriated $30 million a year to the fund until 2020.
The proposition allows the killing of a mountain lion if it is perceived to be an imminent threat to public health or safety, damages livestock or other property, or is attacking people. In 1994, for example, 131 mountain lions were killed after they threatened public safety or damaged property or livestock.
The Legislature put Proposition 197 on the ballot in 1996 to repeal the mountain lion’s protected status, and have Fish & Wildlife manage the population.
Supporters in the Legislature said the lion population had grown so fast they have outgrown their food supply, killing livestock worth millions of dollars and preying on pets and attacking humans near populated areas.
Opponents said the measure would allow trophy hunting of mountain lions and 58% of Californians voted no.
Mountain lions are plentiful in North America, but they are secretive so estimating the population is a challenge.
In California, state Fish & Wildlife official have identified about 4,000 to 6,000 mountain lions living in the state.
Colorado, which is forested with lots of elk to eat, has up to 7,000 mountain lions.
By one estimate, a mountain lion can eat 48 deer a year, about one per week.
The Nisene meadow used to be full of deer but now they are rarely seen, according to residents who assume they’ve become meals for mountain lions.
The Santa Cruz Puma Project is a partnership between UC Santa Cruz and the California Department of Fish and Game begun in 2008 to track and collect data to better understand their habitat and their behavior.
Scientists welcome information about mountain lion sightings and fresh kills. See www.santacruzpumas.org/contact/
~~~
Living with Mountain Lions Safety First
The California Department of Fish & Wildlife has a page on its website devoted to mountain lions and how humans can co-exist with them. Here is their advice.
Mountain lions typically pose little threat to humans, and generally avoid any human interaction. A person is one thousand times more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a mountain lion. People who live in mountain lion habitat can take precautions to reduce their risk of encountering a mountain lion.
Living With Mountain Lions
- Deer-proof your property to avoid attracting a lion’s main food source.
- Remove dense vegetation from around the home to reduce hiding spaces.
- Install outdoor lighting to make it difficult for mountain lions to approach unseen.
- Secure livestock and outdoor large pets in sturdy, covered shelters at night.
- Always remember — Mountain lions are wild animals and their behavior may be unpredictable (like any wildlife).
Mountain Lion Encounters
- Do not hike, bike, or jog alone. Do not hike, bike, or jog at dawn, dusk, or at night.
- Stay alert on trails. Keep a close watch on small children and off leash pets.
- Never approach a mountain lion. Give them an escape route.
- DO NOT RUN. Stay calm. Do not turn your back. Face the animal, make noise and try to look bigger.
- Do not crouch down or bend over.
•••