Volume 4, Number 4

September, 2004

The
Mountain Lion 101
The Central Coast is a special place. It is known for its diverse plant and animal life as well as for its scenic splendor. However, as the human population growth in our area seems to be expanding unabated, the space for animals dwindles. This is especially true at the urban edge or Wildland Urban Interface. When a critters food supply, water sources, and habitat disappear, your back yard begins to look very appealing for basic survival needs. While animals prefer their own habitat, residing near human populations can often mean that your unattended pets become easy meals and areas under porches, decks, and other buildings that are unscreened or otherwise not animal proofed become handy shelter. In Cambria we have an abundance of critters. The more of us that crowd into the pines means the more eyes there are to see bobcats, fox, lions, and other wildlife that are typically present but otherwise rarely viewed. The recent sightings of mountain lions at the urban edge of Cambria is an indicator of that phenomenon but other factors weigh into the equation as well. While mountain lions have always been part of Cambrias forest ecosystem, putting food out for other wildlife species can be an unintended way of inviting mountain lions into areas they would otherwise avoid. Unfortunately, feeding wildlife is perhaps the single most difficult concept for Cambria residents to learn NOT to do. Feeding wild animals artificially increases populations and can increase the spread of disease. Food left on the porch for domestic animals (particularly dog and cat food) provides easy meals for wild animals. This is particularly true for unwanted rodents like rats.

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Wild animals that are predators hunt foraging animals like deer. Artificially maintained deer populations in urban areas create perfect conditions for lions and other predators to set up housekeeping. During times of drought and ecosystem disruption, wild animals migrate to areas that have a food source and this typically means the urban edge. Critter proofing your home and not feeding deer, turkey, and raccoons that attract big cats into your neighborhood, and taking some common sense precautions when walking or hiking on the many trails in our area will help animals and humans share the same space and will eliminate most confrontations. The following suggestions for walkers and hikers are based on studies of mountain behavior and analysis of attacks by mountain lions: Do not hike alone. Walk in groups. Do not approach a lion. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape. Do not run from a lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lions instinct to chase. Do not crouch or bend over. A person squatting or bending over looks a lot like a four-legged prey animal. Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Throw stones, branches or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. The odds of you ever seeing a mountain lion are small. You have more of a chance to be hit by lightning then being in a confrontation with a mountain lion but knowing how to handle yourself in the rare chance of an encounter is wise when living in lion habitat.

The 20th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day

Saturday, September 18, 2004.
Help Greenspace clean Moonstone Beach and portions of Santa Rosa Creek on September 18, 2004. The half-day fun-filled project begins at 9 AM and is over by noon. Coastal Cleanup Day is the premier volunteer event focused on the marine environment in the country. In the past years, Greenspace volunteers have joined forces with more than 40,000 volunteers statewide to conduct what has been hailed by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest garbage collection (1993). Since the program started in 1985, over 552,000 Californians have removed almost 8.5 million pounds of debris from our states shorelines and coast. This year Greenspace is including our annual Santa Rosa Creek Cleanup with the California Coastal Cleanup in order to collect debris and litter before it washes from the creek to our beaches. Volunteers will meet at the Santa Rosa Parking area located on Moonstone Beach Drive at 8:30. Please RSVP or call Rick Hawley at the Greenspace office (927-2866) for more details on how you can become active in keeping our creek and beaches clean, safe, and beautiful.

Post Office Box 1505 Cambria, California 93428 (805) 927-2866 - Phone (805) 927-5220 - Fax e-mail: rick@GreenspaceCambria.org www.GreenspaceCambria.org

Printed on Kenaf Paper

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit #37 Cambria, CA 93428