Game wardens shot and killed a pair of mountain lions after a 70-year-old man was mauled during a hike in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park on January 24, 2007.
Jim Hamm of Fortuna (Humboldt County), was hiking with his wife in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park on the North Coast of California when he was attacked by a single lion.
Mountain lion incidents seem to be on the increase but just why is still speculated. There are a variety of factors that might contribute to an attack.
Predators usually seek out the sick, young, or old. Those types of prey are usually easier to take down.
Fleeing creatures also can trigger predatory behavior–bicyclists move in that manner.
Human populations have heavily encroached into wildlife habitat so that animals have been pushed into smaller areas. In some cases, normal prey may be scarce while encounters and habituation to humans has increased. The desensitization to humans is a problem since as wild animals lose fear of people encounters and incidents increase.
You might have caught an unrelated story this week in Palm Desert, California. A coyote grabbed a small dog from its owner while it was being walked in a heavily urbanized area.
Coyotes are an example of a smaller predator that has urbanized to the point that they will grab pets from their yards or right from the leash as they are being walked. Once more elusive, these small predators have adapted and virtually ignore humans in some areas.
Will mountain lions do the same?
Hard to speculate. In the past this was unlikely. Most attacks were were because animals were sick, elderly, or seeking prey. The disturbing trend is that attacking lions seem to be young adults.
In my little town we have a mountain lion that moves just outside of town in the fall. The cougar is often sighted at night or at dawn and dusk (normal hunting hours). Residents adjust their habits to avoid problems.
The underlying issue is that we cannot continue to fail to address the needs of wildlife and so manage human exposure to the threat of habituated wildlife.
See the mountain lion attack tips here.
Mountain Lion Attack Report (San Diego)
Nell Hamm Drives Off Attacking Cougar
Two Humboldt Mountain Lions Killed After Attack
Follow Up Story Cougar Attack: Wife Comments
Beastly Behavior Audio: PSA 1.01 with animal expert and author Diana L Guerrero
Audio Copy: Animal behaviorist and author, Diana Guerrero comments on Beastly Behavior
Is nature crying out for attention…is that why animals attack?
Perhaps. There are two viewpoints on this issue before I get to those let me just say that all human behavior impacts animals.
I believe the problem is that the wilderness areas left are small and people invade those areas for recreation and animals are becoming habituated to humans…some, like those in southern California have become urban dwellers.
Humans have adversely impacted the oceans, the atmosphere, and the earth.
So, on the one hand you could say that we have detached from the nature world and nature is screaming for us to listen.
On the other hand, the pragmatic answer is that as humans are spending more time in wilderness areas which are the homes and yards of wildlife. Animals become habituated, or used to humans, and as a result have lost their fear of people.
The disturbing trend is that the attacks by cougars are now young, healthy animals in their prime. In the past, attacks have usually been associated with sick or handicapped animals.
Predators naturally seek out the weak, old, or young and will chase prey that flees but humans are now looking like nothing more than tender morsels.
Unfortunately I am out with clients all day and will probably not be able for comments. However, feel free to pull quotes from this commentary or my website or download the audio file above by right clicking over the link.
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