Cougar attack kills man (Orange Co, CA) UPDATE

The Orange County Register ^ | Friday, January, 9, 2004 | BILL RAMS, JIM RADCLIFFE, JIM FINKLE and TONY SAAVEDRA

[Plutarch]

MOUNTAIN LION SAFETY TIPS • Do not hike alone; go in groups with adults supervising children.

I like the idea of Mountain Lions being in the wild. However...environmental types pooh-pooh the notion that lions are a hazard, but now we have the State saying not to hike alone. Because of a few lions, you can't go on a solitary hike, but need back-up.

If it isn't safe to hike alone, why don't they recommend a weapon as hiking companion? Might be more effective than bringing another victim to the lion's meal.

[VadeRetro]

Truth be told, you should never see a cat. They are ghosts. If you do see one, it is usually sick, injured, or old. These are the dangerous ones, looking for an easy meal.

Where they have learned a healthy respect, yes. This one was a frisky two-year-old wit' no respeck. But nothing in his grown-up life had given him any reason to think his world might contain real danger to him.

[marktwain]

My copy is on loan to a friend, but do a search on ABE books (has about 2500 used book stores inventory on line) and you can pick up a signed first edition for about $15. It is a wonderful book, I sent a copy to my nephew for Christmas. It is perhaps the best bear attack book I have read.

The author teaches bear defense in British Columbia.

[ZULU]

Doesn't sound ridiculous at all. There are caterpillars that false eyespots to confuse predators, as well as moths and tropical fish. Maybe even those markings on the back of some cobras' hoods serve the same purpose.

However, given the adaptability and intelligence of these creatures, this will probably only succeed for a limited time.

[D Rider]

Where they have learned a healthy respect, yes. This one was a frisky two-year-old wit' no respeck. But nothing in his grown-up life had given him any reason to think his world might contain real danger to him.

Yep. The modern youth of this country are just plain lazy.

[xsrdx]

This might help

STRIDER MT-L

[ZULU]

Thanks - I'll do it.

[D Rider]

However, given the adaptability and intelligence of these creatures, this will probably only succeed for a limited time.

your probably right. Sort of like the bear wires. When hiking in bear country you used to put your food in a bag, toss it over the wire and tie a rope to a tree. So that your food was hanging out of reach of the bears. That worked for over 50 years. Then one bear figured our that if you climb a tree and strum the wire like a guitar, you can shake all the food down. And he told two friends and they told two friends, and so on and so on...

Now we use steel bear box's with a latch that requires a thumb. This should work until bears evolve a thumb or learn to use explosives.

[scouse]

"They're here, but they're hungry. They're like out of towners and they still have to eat," he said.

Maybe the feds should have simply moved that herd of bulls they slaughtered a few days ago and set them to roam in Orange County.

[TheDon]

UPDATED

Friday, January, 9, 2004
Dead cyclist identified
Autopsy results pending on Foothill Ranch man authorities believe was killed by a mountain lion.

By JOHN McDONALD
The Orange County Register

The bicycle rider killed in the vicinity of a mountain lion attack Thursday afternoon was identified today as Mark Jeffrey Reynolds, 35, of Foothill Ranch, the Orange County Coroner’s office reported.

He was a competition cyclist who excelled at cross country and climb events, his co-workers said.

A 110-pound mountain lion that authorities believe killed Reynolds and mauled a woman mountain biker was shot dead in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park late Thursday. The injured woman was hospitalized after her riding companion and other bikers drove off the lion.

A second mountain lion was killed Thursday when hit by a car, officials reported. Reynolds’ body was found near where the woman cyclist was attacked but an autopsy has yet to be performed to determine the cause of his death. Tests were also being done on both lions killed to determine if one of them killed Reynolds.

Reynolds was an account executive with OMS Sports in Anaheim. Company officials said he had worked at the firm for a year and helped motorcycle racers obtain product endorsements. He was single and had no children, they said.

"I can’t begin to tell you the amount of grief and pain our company and clients are suffering right now," said OMS Sports President Fred Bramblett. "I’m numb. This is so unreal. Mark was a very loyal, very hard-working employee here at OMS Sports and will be sorely missed by all of those he came across."

He was a graduate of the University of Missouri and is survived by his parents, who live in St. Louis, OMS officials said.

[PureSolace]

What good are mountain lions to us? If you seem 'em in your back yard, shoot 'em. right?

[TheDon]

KCAL Story with video of fellow bikers

[VadeRetro]

I really don't want them in my back yard. However, since I'm inside town limits, I'd get seriously yelled at--probably arrested--for taking an unprovoked shot. The odds of my having this problem here in WV are small. (Although there are sporadic reports of sightings in the region.)

[absalom01]

"Truth be told, you should never see a cat. They are ghosts. If you do see one, it is usually sick, injured, or old. These are the dangerous ones, looking for an easy meal."

That's true, but in my hillside neighborhood, I've seen very clear tracks of two separate adult cats for the past several years -- so they're ghosts who leave footprints. It seems also that we've had a relatively recent increase in the deer population pushing into our area, so the appearance of big predators is no surprise.

I actually cought myself one day this time last year looking at some really fresh cougar tracks -- I had my nose practically in the dirt, when I thought to myself -- gee, these are, like, less than an hour old -- maybe it's not so smart to look all scrunched up like a sick fawn. Sure enough, when I walked back down the trail an hour later, there was a fresh set of tracks leading back out of the scrub and across the trail. So, I was probably within 20' of a 150 pound cat (they were big tracks -- about the size of my hand), and couldn't see a thing. Dunno if I could have gotten my pistol out in time if the cat had decided I looked like lunch.

[D Rider]

Dunno if I could have gotten my pistol out in time if the cat had decided I looked like lunch.

Chances are you couldn't. And being struck by a 150 pound cat would be like being hit by a heavyweight prizefighter. A cat that big is extremely bad news.

[Carry_Okie]

Up until the late 80's when prop 101 was passed.

I believe that was Prop 117.

[D Rider]

I believe that was Prop 117.

You know, I believe your right!

[Carry_Okie]

Truth be told, you should never see a cat. They are ghosts. If you do see one, it is usually sick, injured, or old. These are the dangerous ones, looking for an easy meal.

We see them here in Santa Cruz, and they're killing and eating pets. So are the coyotes. I've been stalked while operating a large chainsaw.

[D Rider]

We see them here in Santa Cruz, and they're killing and eating pets. So are the coyotes. I've been stalked while operating a large chainsaw.

Then be carefull!. Eating pets, stalking people- thats not a good sign. Hows the local deer population?

[Happy2BMe]

"I've been stalked while operating a large chainsaw."

I can see it now - Chainsaw Massacre II