EDITOR: It amazes me when I hear or read about complaints from
people who reside in areas that co-exist with wildlife. Do they
ever ask themselves questions like: Why did I buy a home in an area
that I knew was populated by various forms of wildlife?
EDITOR:
It amazes me when I hear or read about complaints from people who reside in areas that co-exist with wildlife. Do they ever ask themselves questions like: Why did I buy a home in an area that I knew was populated by various forms of wildlife? Or, am I becoming less tolerant? Probably not! Instead, they complain about the abundance of deer or an occasional mountain lion or bobcat sighting. If there are deer…there are mountain lions; it’s part of the food chain of life.
While reading a letter from a homeowner who has never personally been confronted by a mountain lion, but, is now afraid of going into their backyard, I ask myself why? The lions have always co-existed in our neighborhood. Why does the media play on our emotions, like a fine tuned violin? Because, we allow it…we react to what we read or hear. A news story becomes our reality, regardless of its slant on the truth.
Sine the 1800’s there have 13 mountain lion attacks on humans in California. Six people died and of those, two actually died from rabies prior to the availability of a rabies treatment. More people are attacked and die annually from pet dog attacks than from mountain lion attacks that have occurred in over a century.
I recommend that people educate themselves … especially those co-existing with mountain lions and the media, who seem to create public hysteria.
Below is a webpage for a recent mountain lion (puma) study done by the University of Davis:
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whc/scp/WHC%20Puma%20Report.pdf
This next webpage if from the Dept. of Fish & Game entitled: “Living with Mountain Lions”:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lion/
This next webpage is a government document which documents all mountain lion attacks in California since the late 1800’s to date:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/issues/lion/attack.html
And, this final webpage gives statistics on pet dog attacks:
http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html
In a previous letter to the editor, a resident suggested that a local mountain lion and cub be re-located from Jackson Oaks. Why? The lions had not threatened any humans. There are ways for humans to make their yards less attractive to wildlife. The wildlife were there when the homes were built. When you move into an area that obviously have deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, skunks, wild pigs, coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, etc., YOU make the conscious decision to co-exist with them. It’s part of the ambiance of the neighborhood. I for one feel extremely fortunate that I am able to experience their natural grace and beauty.
By the way … I live in Jackson Oaks. I also like dogs and other pets. And, I carry a flashlight at night.
Sherry Purser,
Morgan Hill
