49 replies to this topic

[tgianco]

Y'all know me. Know how I earn a livin'. I'll catch this lion for you, but it ain't gonna be easy. Bad lion. Not like going down to Target and chasin' loitering middle schoolers. This lion, swallow you whole. Little shakin', little tenderizin', an' down you go. And we gotta do it quick, that'll bring back your hikers and tourists, put all your businesses on a payin' basis. But it's not gonna be pleasant. I'll find him for $3k, but I'll catch him, and kill him, for ten. But you've gotta make up your minds. If you want to stay alive on the trails, then ante up. If you want to play it cheap, be on welfare the whole winter. I don't want no volunteers, I don't want no mates, there's just too many captains on these forums. Ten thousand dollars for me by myself. For that you get the head, the tail, the whole damn thing.

Quint

[Nancy]

Y'all know me. Know how I earn a livin'. I'll catch this lion for you, but it ain't gonna be easy. Bad lion. Not like going down to Target and chasin' loitering middle schoolers. This lion, swallow you whole. Little shakin', little tenderizin', an' down you go. And we gotta do it quick, that'll bring back your hikers and tourists, put all your businesses on a payin' basis. But it's not gonna be pleasant. I'll find him for $3k, but I'll catch him, and kill him, for ten. But you've gotta make up your minds. If you want to stay alive on the trails, then ante up. If you want to play it cheap, be on welfare the whole winter. I don't want no volunteers, I don't want no mates, there's just too many captains on these forums. Ten thousand dollars for me by myself. For that you get the head, the tail, the whole damn thing.

Quint

Ooo! I think I know this one! Jaws? Did I get it right? What did I win?

[jafount]

So some constructions workers saw one at least a quarter mile away, and some Boy Scouts saw one at 2 AM. Sorry, but these don't sound like very reliable sighting.

I don't doubt that it is possible for mountain lions to come down this far, but it is highly unlikely. They do not come into civilization, civilization comes to them (think hikers going into the wilderness). Folsom has some very pretty nature areas, but even along the bike trail it is still too built up to suit the tastes of mountain lions.

Breaking Lion Myths

Lay abhors the mass media's propensity to blame lion attacks on "human
encroachment." Habitat loss is a deplorable problem that needs addressing, but it is not the cause of attacks, says Lay. Rather, he believes such encounters are evidence of a growing lion population that is taking up residence in suburban and even urban areas.



A mountain lion prowling a shopping mall parking lot is almost cliché these days. In Placerville, Calif., a cougar activated the automatic doors at the emergency entrance of a downtown hospital. Pets disappearing from suburban yards are commonplace, and there are cases of cougars literally taking dogs off their leashes.



Contrary to frequent reports, animals have no "instinctive" or "natural" fear of humans just because they are human. Among predators, hazard avoidance and prey recognition are learned behaviors. Through repeated nonthreatening exposure to humans, a lion learns that some of the prey in its new territory is bipedal.



Because children and adults of small stature more closely approximate the size of other prey species, they are by far the most common targets for lions. Hairy-chested types enjoy marginal immunity due to the intimidation
factor their sheer size presents; for
instance, a cougar may pass over a bull elk in favor of a whitetail deer fawn. However, if deer are in short supply and an elk presents itselfä.



The belief that animals prey on
humans only in desperation due to age, starvation or other incapacitation is a myth. Young, healthy animals account for the vast majority of lions involved in human attacks.

Outdoor Life

[Warren G]

In the American River Parkway and the State Park area between Hazel and Folsom Dam there are far more deer below Hazel Avenue than above Hazel. I think that's because The Nimbus Dam and Hazel Avenue area form a barrier/deterrent for mountain lions. I think the mountain lions are the reason the deep population is lower towards Folsom Lake.

[jafount]

It would be horrible if this incident was kept quite and brushed under the mat and some innocent walker, runner, hiker, or child were to be attacked or killed because they were not aware of this danger.

They need to Post signs and in the media let people know of this possible danger.

Hmmmm...sorry, but if you don't realize there are Mountain Lions in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, it would seem as though nature has a way of taking care of you.

[curiousity]

It would be horrible if this incident was kept quite and brushed under the mat and some innocent walker, runner, hiker, or child were to be attacked or killed because they were not aware of this danger.

They need to Post signs and in the media let people know of this possible danger.

I was born & raised in CA. As long as I can remember, I've known we have bears & lions & rattlesnakes & black widows & scorpions & tarantulas, as well as chipmunks that carry fleas with bubonic plague. I don't want my woods littered with signs telling me of wildlife danger. If you live here and are ignorant of that which was here long before you were a sparkle in your Dad's eye, that's your problem. The information is already available. We don't need no stinkin' signs or mass media alerts.

[hopeanelli]

In the American River Parkway and the State Park area between Hazel and Folsom Dam there are far more deer below Hazel Avenue than above Hazel. I think that's because The Nimbus Dam and Hazel Avenue area form a barrier/deterrent for mountain lions. I think the mountain lions are the reason the deep population is lower towards Folsom Lake.

Very true.. I just went to a class on the dangers on the American River Parkway (animals, insects, etc) my company is breaking ground on the Hazel Ave Widening Project this week so we got edumacated. The mountain lion subject came up all workers are to be alert to their surroundings, basically if you feel something is watching you.. IT IS... I am taking my camera to work maybe I will get some good pictures of the wildlife.


PS- Pedestrians and Bikers be patient the widening will ultimately benefit you but there will be some diversions along the trails.

[ducky]

Very true.. I just went to a class on the dangers on the American River Parkway (animals, insects, etc) my company is breaking ground on the Hazel Ave Widening Project this week so we got edumacated. The mountain lion subject came up all workers are to be alert to their surroundings, basically if you feel something is watching you.. IT IS... I am taking my camera to work maybe I will get some good pictures of the wildlife.

Bring this too, just in case.

[FolsomFrogGuy]

Mountain lions need large territories, like 10,000 acres per beast.

Ever since CA banned hunting of mountain lions, their populations have been on the rise which drives the younger new adults to seek out new territory which drives them into civilization. If the hunting ban was lifted, hunters would be able to reduce their population back down to where the frequency of this sort of occurrence would decrease. and by limiting the number of hunting tags issued, this can be done without endangering the species.

More like 30 square miles, as a start... I'd give the tag thing an ok, so long as no dogs collared or otherwise are used! Of course it would need to be limited to the edge habitats like ours...

[john]

Just an update, for those of you who don't believe this story it is now being reported on KCRA. And it the first time I have heard of a report of more than one lion in the area.

[Steve Heard]

Just an update, for those of you who don't believe this story it is now being reported on KCRA. And it the first time I have heard of a report of more than one lion in the area.

I'll admit to being one who had a healthy bit of skepticism (though still warned my kids to stay away), I'm glad to know the truth of the matter.

The accusation that police and city officials were trying to 'keep it quiet' so as not to hurt business added to my skepticism.

From the story, "FOLSOM, Calif. -- Park officials are warning the public to keep an eye out for mountain lions after several were spotted recently in the Lake Natoma area.

"This is a precautionary measure," said Folsom Sector Superintendent Dan Tynan. "We want our visitors to be aware that mountain lions may be in the area at any time. We urge everyone to use common sense, be alert, stay on designated trails and follow the safety rules of the Department of Fish and Game."

I'd hardly call that 'keeping it quiet'.

[Robert Giacometti]

Just an update, for those of you who don't believe this story it is now being reported on KCRA. And it the first time I have heard of a report of more than one lion in the area.

I always heard there were a bunch of cougars that hung out at the Cliff House.

[lornaknits]

Ok. I lived in El Dorado County for 20+ years. I had livestock that were killed by a mountain lion and certainly scared me about walking on my property at night or having my kids go fee the dog after dark. We were told that we could shoot it. Oops, no gun. Eventually the tracker came and took care of it after it had killed over 3 dozen sheep and goats, not for food but for fun (much as a cat "plays" with mice until they aren't fun anymore, aka dead)

Now I live in Folsom and ride this bike trail where the great Mountain lion lives and intimidates. I don't know what to but ride my bike really, really fast throught that area! Can anyone tell me? (not so lol?)

I will add that today I rode my bike around the lake and saw a 4+ foot rattler on the trail. My girlfriend nearly crashed into me and we both screamed. It was half way onto the trail and half curled up. It's head was even raised, probably not as if to strike but I didn't ask it. It was hecka scarey! We did warn the next few cyclists coming toward us.....

[john]

I would stay on the south side of the river if anything. The only reports I have heard were on the north side of the river.

[Robert Giacometti]

Now I live in Folsom and ride this bike trail where the great Mountain lion lives and intimidates. I don't know what to but ride my bike really, really fast throught that area! Can anyone tell me? (not so lol?)

Just make sure you can ride faster than the friend you ride with, when going through mountain lion area.