EDITOR: The article published in the July 27 edition of the
Morgan Hill Times about my fianc
é, Davlyn Giovanetti, and her encounter with a mountain lion
needs just a little clarification.
EDITOR:
The article published in the July 27 edition of the Morgan Hill Times about my fiancé, Davlyn Giovanetti, and her encounter with a mountain lion needs just a little clarification. As the only veterinarian actively involved in wildlife care in southern Santa Clara County for the last 23 years, I want to be sure that the public gets the importance of the message from the California Fish and Game officer.
There were a series of bad decisions that put Davlyn in harm’s way.
• I was walking our three dogs, two Shelties and our English Setter, Elvis at about 7 a.m. We had not seen or heard of the lion, which had been bedding down near our house, for more than a month. At the end of our morning walk I decided to let Elvis, the setter, have a good run. He alerted on something I could not see and all three dogs disappeared at high speed. One Sheltie returned after 45 minutes. Elvis returned after two hours and the second Sheltie, Kcee, did not return. I should not have let them off leash – even in full daylight.
• At noon, as I was heading off to work, Davlyn decided to go looking for Kcee. I told her to take her cell phone, but failed to tell her to take Elvis. (Big dogs scare cats – even big ones). I had also failed to get us any other tools to protect against lions – like a very noisy portable air horn. So I let her go off on her own with inadequate protection.
• When Davlyn encountered the lion, although we had discussed “making yourself big and making noise,” terror took charge. Her feeling was that being big and making noise would instigate attack in the lion, so she backed away and crouched behind a tall clump of grass. Standing your ground, waving your arms and looking big and making big noise are all likely to discourage attack.
Looking smaller and retreating can actually incite attack. Think about your pet cats and how they like to “give chase.” They will run if you run at them, but will chase almost anything that runs away. It is instinct.
The point is this. Davlyn and I should be among the best educated civilians on what to do in the presence of large, wild predators – yet we made a series of bad decisions. Most mentally healthy humans do not spend a lot of time thinking about life-threatening situations, but when you live in mountain lion country it is worth spending some time thinking about and actually practicing the techniques advised by the state Department of Fish and Game. It could save your life or those of people and pets that you love.
We were very lucky in this instance. The mountain lion showed no aggression toward Davlyn. That is probably the typical response if a lion is not cornered or hungry and if you do not actually run. Do pay attention to the Fish and Game guidelines and consider investing in a cheap, very loud air horn from a party store. Do not buy one that sounds like a sick animal, which will actually attract predators.
Our thanks to the Morgan Hill Police Department and Fish and Game Warden Kyle Kroll for their prompt response and caring efforts. This story has a happy ending. Kcee showed up at our door the next morning; but there have been a few unhappy endings in recent years with mountain lions in California. Prepare yourself and your loved ones, make good decisions and keep your endings happy.
John N. Quick,
Morgan Hill
