Mountain lion spotted at the Whitewater Preserve
The Wildlands Conservancy's Whitewater Preserve stated in a Facebook post over the weekend that they have recently spotted a Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) climbing out of the riverbed on one of their remote cameras.
Lucas Wilgers, the assistant preserve manager at Whitewater Preserve said, “Anytime you take a trip up to the wilderness there is the potential to have an encounter with a wild animal.” The preserve has cameras up in areas they know animals will pass through. They check these cameras once a week. The animals are always out there, but Wilgers said it is incredibly rare for people to see them. The reason it is so rare is that the Whitewater Preserve has trails open during the day, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain lions are nocturnal and prefer to come out at night.
Wilgers stated, “When the sun comes up then hikers are here, and campers are here, and picnics are going on... That’s the part they want nothing to do with.” Mountain lions don't like loud noises and naturally stay away from people.
It is important to avoid an encounter with a mountain lion all together. Wilgers stated one way to do this is to hike with a partner or group of people. He also said to make sure if you bring a dog, that they stay on a leash. Dogs that roam around can encounter a wild animal or potentially even attract one to you. He also stated that people should remain alert while hiking the trails. To stay alert, don't wear headphones and keep an eye out to your surroundings.
If you happen to turn a corner and encounter a mountain lion, Lucas said, “Stay facing it. Don’t crouch. Just make yourself kind of large and make some noise." You should keep your voice kind of firm and louder. What you don't want to do is turn your back to them. Jim Harp, a volunteer at the Whitewater Preserve said you should walk backward away from the mountain lion. Walk backward facing the animal. He also said that running is a bad idea because the mountain lion might think of you as prey.
Mountain lions are helpful in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. They help to regulate the populations of the animals who are underneath them, like deer.
It's important to always remember that when you are hiking, you are in their home. Lucas stated, “Mountain lions do deserve respect and to be seen in that pivotal role that they play in our ecosystem.”
You can find more information HERE or by following the link below, on encountering a mountain lion or other animals and preventative measures from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Link to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Keep-Me-Wild/Lion.
