Mountain lion interactions in Southern California have been going on for years – Orange County Register

Mountain lions are one of the last remaining apex predators to roam freely in Southern California, and their interactions with humans have been a source of legend for centuries.

As non-native settlers began to arrive in Southern California in the late 18th century, encounters became more frequent, and stories of mountain lion interactions were often embellished, and some were even humorous.

The name “mountain lion” has become the most popular description for the big cats, but they are known by several other names including cougar, mountain lion, and panther.

Highly adaptable, mountain lions have the largest distribution of any wild land mammal in the Western Hemisphere, stretching from the Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes in South America. In the United States, they are generally found west of the Rocky Mountains.

Native Americans respected mountain lions, and they knew how dangerous the cats could be, especially when their normal prey was scarce due to drought, fire, or other conditions. Interactions between Native Americans and mountain lions were less likely than with early European settlers because the native tribes did not raise animals as a food source that would attract the cats.

California ranchers were particularly wary of mountain lions, as they were known to attack and kill cattle and other livestock. Occasionally, a mountain lion would become so aggressive toward livestock that a bounty was placed on the animal, and hunting them became a regular sport.

In January 1877, the San Bernardino Weekly Times newspaper advertised mountain lions as one of the many game species that could be hunted while staying at Crafton Retreat in the eastern reaches of the San Bernardino Valley. The article states: “The more adventurous Nimrod [skilled hunter] may be lodged in the glens and higher hills by more regal game, like deer and—don’t start, you eastern sportsman—mountain lions.”

In the late 1800s, game hunters across the West began to campaign for the killing of mountain lions to conserve populations of other wildlife. Hunters and others who depended on game claimed the cats killed large numbers of deer and antelope in the surrounding mountains.

In 1899, San Bernardino County began offering a $10 bounty for a mountain lion’s scalp, and the number rose to $75 by 1928. In the early 20th century, California counties typically offered a $20 bounty on a mountain lion. Bounty continued statewide through 1963, ending in 1967 in San Bernardino County.

One of the most exaggerated accounts of a lion encounter was published in the Los Angeles Times on July 5, 1895, in an article stating, “A gigantic mountain lion, measuring 12 feet from tip to tip,” was killed in Arizona.

Historical records state that the largest mountain lion of all time weighed 276 pounds and their average weight ranges from 75 to 200 pounds. Average length from nose to tip of tail ranges from 6 feet to 7.5 feet.

On the bright side of the interaction spectrum, a report in the Los Angeles Evening Express of February 17, 1890 states: “Henry Ems, of Altadena, whose home is at the foot of the mountains, met a mountain lion a few days ago. Ems does without a suitcase [small piece of luggage] upon the beast and the latter, unable to bear such a modern salute, turned and fled.

Another non-terrifying encounter was reported in the July 1, 1901 issue of the San Bernardino Daily Times-Index, which described the pursuit of a mountain lion at Wrightwood by local rancher/miner SS Guffey.

After tracking the animal down a ravine, Guffey fired two shots at what he assumed was a large cat perched in a tree. The “cat” turned out to be a sack containing clothing and personal belongings belonging to a local miner. Slightly embarrassed, Guffey dropped off the bag at the local sheriff’s office.

As Guffey’s experience suggests, mountain lions don’t have to be there to be vilified.

In September 1901, a Mrs. Switzer was riding her horse up the Waterman Canyon Road in the San Bernardino Mountains when she thought she saw a mountain lion staring at her through the bushes. She drew a pistol for protection, eventually shooting herself in the leg during the riot. The cat was never actually seen, but Switzer stuck to her story.

In 1942, mountain lions were still a problem, and San Bernardino County reported that their predator control officer had captured a 90-pound cat over Etiwanda. The capture was his 18th capture in his official capacity and his 87th overall.

Reports of interactions with mountain lions have remained constant over the years, but most have been nothing more than frightening experiences for the humans, and presumably the cats. Mountain lion attacks on humans are rare, and fatal attacks are extremely rare based on the size of the human population that might interact with them.

The earliest recorded fatal mountain lion attacks in California occurred in 1890 in Siskiyou County, killing a 7-year-old boy, and in 1909 in Santa Clara County, killing a young woman and a 10-year-old boy. The next deadly attack didn’t occur until 1994, when a woman was killed in El Dorado County. Six fatal mountain lion attacks have been recorded in California.

Premiums for mountain lions in California ended in 1967 and hunting ceased in 1970. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife provides estimates from two studies showing that 2,000 to 3,000 and 4,000 to 6,000 mountain lions live in the state today.

In 2012, an adult male mountain lion was spotted roaming the Hollywood Hills and was captured and radio-collared for study purposes. Dubbed the P-22 by wildlife authorities, the cat achieved celebrity status by living on a small rural island surrounded by a dense urban population.

Officials believe P-22 was hit by a vehicle and arrested for a health check in December 2022. P-22 was determined to have significant health issues in addition to the injury and was euthanized on December 17, 2022.

A memorial service for the adored feline was held earlier this month at The Greek Theater in Los Angeles, where thousands came to honor the mountain lion that sparked our interest.

Mountain lions continue to roam the wilderness around Southern California, and their occasional ventures into urban areas and interactions with humans and their pets are still notable.

In recent years, California has built several major wildlife crossings that will allow wild animals to safely cross important thoroughfares so they can continue to be part of our human-wildlife history.

Mark Landis is a freelance writer. He can be reached at historyinca@yahoo.com.