I drive around a corner, and there, in broad daylight, a mountain lion is loping down the middle of the road. I stop. He stops. For what feels like a million heartbeats, we stare at each other, and for a moment, I wonder if I'm actually safe in my big red hunk of metal. Before I get the wherewithal to grab my phone camera, he jogs back into the bushes and disappears.
In the sixteen years I've been out here, this is only my third mountain lion sighting. We're told that lions are shy creatures, and if you see one, there's something wrong with it. There was nothing wrong with this guy—he was huge, healthy, and very much in his element. I was the interloper.
I make the assumption that this was a "he" due to his large size and wide face. Males have larger heads, thicker necks, and broader jaws compared to females. Adult males are 7-8 feet long and weigh up to 170 pounds, while females are smaller, weighing around 110 pounds. Wildlife experts say the only definitive way to ascertain gender is through markings on their hindquarters. Males tend to have higher rates of tooth fractures due to fighting to defend their territory. Personally, I wouldn't want to get close enough to check.
The Mountain Lion Foundation estimates that there are 4500 mountain lions in California. The limiting factor for the number of mountain lions in a given area is the availability of water and prey. They are considered near threatened, not endangered, but their role in the ecosystem cannot be overstated.
The mountain lion's primary prey is deer. When lions aren't there to control deer populations, their numbers increase rapidly. This leads to an increase in tick-borne diseases and the decimation of native vegetation.
About two hours after my encounter, my neighbor's dogs went crazy. She at least kept her head long enough to get some video footage of what I'm assuming was the same mountain lion. According to the Department of Fish and Game website, the best way to keep mountain lions away from your property is to avoid feeding their natural prey—deer. The site also advocates removing vegetation that provides hiding spaces around the home. Finally, it's important to keep pets and livestock in sturdy shelters at night.
From that same site: If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run or turn your back. Face the animal, make a loud noise, and try to look bigger. Do not crouch or bend over. Or, if you're a chicken like me, just stay in your car.
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