Mountain lions, coyotes and bears, oh my!

[free2bee]

I am so sorry for your dog. And YOU. The area I live in is mostly wild. I'm off of Desert Front. So sorry the wild things have invaded your peace.

[tcaarabians]

Coyotes quite close by last night here in P.H. (1/2 mile up Green from the 138)

 It was clearly a pack. I haven't heard them like this and so close in quite awhile.  I'm guessing
they're coming down for water now and whatever game. A friend in Phelan said there was a large pack there too. Here's hoping our missing cat
Clarence wasn't a midnight snack for them.  cheryl o7o

[Wrightwood]

Wildlife is making it's way into the urban interface in search of water and food during drought conditions.
At this weeks WW Property Owner's meeting one person reported bird feeders being ripped down out of trees by bears near Apple Street. Another neighbor of ours had their bird feeders torn down on Sunday evening by bears.

[Tall Trees]

My bird feeders were torn down by a Bear and destroyed just last week.  I had to buy new feeders at the hardware store.

[tcaarabians]

Ok, I do not know what it was I heard around 3am or so .. night before last here in P.H..  It sounded like a cat.. if it was a cat.. it was a really big cat with a very deep growl .. right behind the house somewhere. I do know cat growls (see kittens for adoption thread for reference.)  I did hear the coyotes up the hill a bit at the same time. I do not think this was a coyote. The neighbor's dogs were barking and after that growl.. there was total silence. My dog was in the house and didn't make a peep. I've just never heard that sort of growl before  .. very deep and quite loud.  I did get up and look about and saw nothing. If I do spot a mountain lion.. I figure I'll throw on my security bells and whistles to scare it off. I really don't want it around the horses .. if that is what it was. And, yes.. I have listened to the sounds of mountain lions... this was deeper. Perhaps feeling threatened.. I dunno. cheryl o7o

[catsmeow]

I was in PH on Thursday, off of Hollister, and saw a Bobcat in my friends neighbors yard ,I wonder if that is what you heard?

[free2bee]

tcaarabians--sounds like bear. Maybe a large, feral dog. Look for prints.

[Bradyber]

Went to Forever Wild with my son. I realize this is a last resort for many animals; primarily large cats. I did not realize how aggressive our mountain lions could be until one of the cats was clearly interested in my son! And my son is 11 years old! After talking to an employee, she told me how aggressive mountain lions could be and how the size of my son could make him easy prey. I would like to request any suggestions if we came across an aggressive cat of this nature while out hiking our local trails in Wrightwood.  Thank you

[lagomorphmom]

I'm sure you'll get a more in depth reply, but one thing I've read is that they often attack from the rear. Thus, children following parents make good targets. Dogs are also tempting targets to a big cat.

[Wrightwood]

[Deadhead]

Bear pepper spray is supposed to be just as effective on anything with a good sense of smell ( Mountain Lions, Coyotes, etc..)   

[ChrisLynnet]

My leased horse lives in a stable in Phelan near the center of town. He was mauled by a mountain lion over the weekend. The vet thinks he will recover if there is no infection but his wounds are awful, that was one serious cat. The attack happened on broad daylight when the owners were out grocery shopping. Fish and Game knows and will hunt the cat, but who knows when they'll find it. The neighbors are freaked out because the horse is an adult 15 hands, not exactly small game.

It's very strange behavior for a mountain lion. They found two sets of prints; an adult size and cub size, so she may have been demonstrating to the cub or trying to feed it. It's sad, the cats are beautiful animals; but so is my horse!

[tcaarabians]

Good Grief!!! Can you pm me with a more exact location if you'd rather not post it here? I'd like to let my friends in the area know about the attack. I've heard of attacks on foals,, but not a full-grown horse. Now I'm thinking it may well have been a mountain lion I heard last week.

I'm up Green Road south of the 138 and have five horses here.  Hope your horse recovers. Cheryl o7o

[ChrisLynnet]

No problem -- it's the block behind the small medical building where Walde's pharmacy is located. There are almost a dozen horses on the property. There were 2 Dobies on site; we don't know if their barking drove off the cat or if they were hiding! I sure don't blame them if they were. It was such a brazen attack, greatly out of character for a mtn. lion. Thank you for your good wishes. 

 

[tcaarabians]

Thanks. I agree.. at least from what little I know about mountain lions.. out of character. I wonder if the horse somehow went after the cub? Probably just out of curiosity if so. Tho, we had a horse that would chase dogs. That location is a few miles from here.. but still too close for comfort. I will alert my friends here that have horses.

I hope they can track the cat.. they'll have to do it soon because we'll likely have rain today. Again, here's hoping for a full recovery for your horse.  With rain coming and the mud that follows .. it is not easy to keep wounds clean. best, cheryl o7o

[MojaveSidecar]

Small Bear last seen on Lark and Mill Circle heading east towards the Catholic church about 30 minutes ago. It turned left on Mill and right on Edna..  whereabouts currently unknown...

[Wrightwood]

Let's hope nobody gets between the cubs and mama bear by mistake.

[Wrightwood]

After missing in action for 3 weeks the neighborhood bear reappeared last night

[free2bee]

That can't be the 'starving cub'! It must be mama. ??

[tcaarabians]

I was thinking the same thing Free 2.. . But, maybe 'starving cub' isn't starving? And, when you look at the back of the bear as compared to the height of the doorknobs on that shed behind it.. this bear ain't that tall. .. even though it is in the foreground of the shots. So, it could be 'baby bear.'  It is pictured here on a small slope.. but somehow it seems to me like a young bear.. perhaps "Two Thumbs Up." I dunno..  best, cheryl o7o