County has large population of mountain lions

Mountain lions can be found throughout Lake County. A trail camera photographed this lion near Lakeport. (Courtesy photo)

Last week a resident of Buckingham reported seeing a mountain lion walk across the road in front of him. He wanted to know how common mountain lions are in the county and if they are a threat to people. Actually, mountain lion sightings are common throughout the county and every year several of the big cats are seen. A month ago I spotted a mountain lion while hiking up to the summit of Mount Konocti.

Lake County has a healthy population of mountain lions and the number is increasing yearly. Many lions are now living in close proximately to humans and lion sightings are common in residential areas throughout the county. A few years ago a mountain strolled through the parking lot at Kmart in Lakeport. Two years ago a mountain lion chased a small dog through a mobile home park in Lake County. Both events occurred during the middle of the day. It was 15 years ago that a mountain lion entered a home through the patio door in Kono Tayee. The young lion roamed around in the home for a few moments before exiting out the same door.

Most of the lions seen in the residential areas are young animals. Mountain lions are very territorial and an adult male lion will kill any other young male lion that enters his territory. This often forces the younger males into residential areas.

There are several reasons for the increase in mountain lions, especially in the residential areas. The deer population in the residential areas has increased dramatically in the past 15 years because of the abundance of flowers and green shrubs that attract the deer. Since deer are the primary food for mountain lions, the lions have followed the deer. Studies have shown that mountain lions also prey on wild turkeys, rabbits, domestic cats and dogs, which are also abundant near the homes. In other words, the living conditions are ideal for the lions.

Twenty years ago the lion population was held in check mainly because they were shot by hunters and ranchers. Now mountain lions are completely protected with the exception that they can be killed with a depredation permit issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). According to the DFW, before a depredation permit is issued there must be proof that the lion is a threat to humans or livestock. In fact, a new policy endorsed by the DFW is to remove troublesome lions instead of killing them.

Without question a mountain lion is an impressive animal. An adult male will weigh from 150 to 200 pounds. They are incredibly strong for their size and have the ability to take down and kill an 800-pound bull elk within minutes. Wildlife biologists say a mountain lion will kill a deer about every 20 days, more often if it's a female with cubs. They are a secretive animal and mostly move about at night although they will occasionally travel during the daytime.

Actually, very few people have seen a mountain lion in the wild. I've been fortunate in all my years of hiking and hunting and have seen five in the wild. The most memorable event occurred a number of years ago while I was deer hunting on Cow Mountain. I saw a huge male lion sitting on a hump out in an open glade. I walked toward him and he just looked at me, all the time swinging his long tail back and forth. I approached to within about 30 yards and he stood up and stared at me before slowly walking away. He was the most impressive wild animal I had ever seen.

Just about everyone who has hiked in the woods in Lake County has been watched by a lion at one time or another. A few years ago biologists attached a GPS tracking collar on a lion in Southern California and monitored it for several weeks. The lion would often hide in the brush a few yards off a popular hiking trail and observe the people hiking past him. No one but the biologists knew he was there.

From 1986 to the present there have been 14 verified attacks on humans by mountain lions in California, but only three have been fatal. There have been no attacks in Lake County and only two in Mendocino County.

Is it safe to walk in the state park or the woods? Of course it is, but a little common sense should be used. The DFW says not to walk alone in known lion country. If you see a lion, make yourself look as tall as possible by raising your arms above your head. If you have small children with you, pick them up because mountain lions are attracted to children. If by some rare chance you are attacked, fight back with anything that you can use such as rocks or sticks. More information about mountain lions can be obtained from the DFW website at Just type in mountain lion on the website's search engine.