UPDATE: Mountain lion sightings on El Dorado Trail, another at the Quarry

THE QUARRY 5/25/2017: A Park Watch Reporter said a lion ran into the side of her trailer at Hwy 49 and the Quarry as they were driving out of the Confluence. The lion spun around and went back into the woods.  She saw that it was uninjured.

EL DORADO TRAIL 5/25/2017: There has been a mountain lion sighting on the El Dorado Trail in the Weber Creek Bridge (portion of the trail between Forni Rd and Missouri Flat Rd).  This sighting was of a mother and her young.  Parks and Trails posted signs on the trail. Please be cautious and aware of your surroundings. This information came from the County of El Dorado Parks and Trails division.

For those of you who are running or riding in these areas, a good idea is to wear bells. Most lions want to stay hidden from noise or humans.

 The Ag Department recommends:

• Do not feed feral cats. The cats, raccoons, opossums, and skunks that come for the food also attract mountain lions and are easy “tidbits” for them. Do not leave pet foods out overnight as they attract these visitors that in turn attract the mountain lions.
• Do not feed deer. Presence of deer on your property attracts mountain lions as they are the natural prey of the lions.

Always:

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Do not enter brushy areas.
• Stay close to the building at night and do not enter dark areas alone.  

The Agriculture Department and the State Department of Fish and Game also make the following recommendations:

• DO NOT HIKE ALONE: Go in groups, with adults supervising children.
• KEEP CHILDREN CLOSE TO YOU: Observations of captured wild mountain lions reveal that the animals seem especially drawn to children. Keep children within your sight at all times.
• DO NOT APPROACH A MOUNTAIN LION: Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
• DO NOT RUN FROM A MOUNTAIN LION: Running may stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up if possible so they don’t panic and run. Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.
• DO NOT CROUCH DOWN OR BEND OVER: In Nepal, a researcher studying tigers and leopards watched the big cats kill cattle and domestic water buffalo while ignoring humans standing nearby. He surmised that a human standing up is just not the right shape for a cat’s prey. On the other hand, a person squatting or bending over looks a lot like a four-legged prey animal. If you’re in mountain lion country, avoid squatting, crouching or bending over, even when picking up children.
• DO ALL YOU CAN TO APPEAR LARGER: Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Again, pick up small children. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. The idea is to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you are not a danger to it.
• FIGHT BACK IF ATTACKED: A hiker in Southern California used a rock to fend off a mountain lion that was attacking his son. Others have fought back successfully with sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools and their bare hands. Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the attacking animal. If you see a mountain lion near a County facility, or to IMMEDIATELY REPORT A DANGEROUS
• ENCOUNTER OR ATTACK: CALL 911 The threat to public safety will be assessed and any appropriate action will be taken. Also report any sighting of dead or injured mountain lions. 

All trail users need to be aware of their surroundings. Currently there have never been a report of a mountain lion attacking a horse and rider combination, but lions have attacked and killed mt. bikers, hikers, horses alone, and dogs on our trails.

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