He looks like this.
I tol’ you an’ I tol’ you- there’a a mountain lion in them thar hills. Except when I called the city, what, four… six months ago, nobody listened. If you recall it’s not that I wanted the lion hunted down, I called because my daughter convinced me that a little kid might get ‘et. And she said I would feel awful if a little kid got ‘et.
But the city said, “Uh-huh. That’s nice. Thanks.”
And I said, “Aren’t you even going to put up a notice?”
And the city said, “Thanks for calling.”
And I said, “Not even a sign on the bulletin board near the parking lot?”
And the city said, “Thanks for calling!” All chipper-like this time, just so I’d know for certain I’d been dismissed.
So I said to myself, “What the hey, if they can ignore a mountain lion in close proximity to the preschool (and the preschool kids who hike up there with just a couple of adults) then by god, so can I. And I’ve seen him several times since. On one occasion I did stop a runner… a woman running on the backside of the park wearing a hoodie and earbuds. She was looking at the ground as I stood looking at the mountain lion chase a doe and two fawns. I actually had to block her path and explain to her, in my eclectic mix of Hebrew and Spanish, (because the two languages are jumbled together in my brain) that there was a mountain lion just up the hillside so she should wait and hike the rest of the way to the top with me.
She kind of responded like the city… ignored me. She waited a few minutes then ran off ahead.
So yesterday the city shut down the park and began a major police/animal control action because, OMG! A park maintenance man spotted a mountain lion while he was driving up the main trail in his four-wheel drive truck at 6:30 a.m. to empty trash cans.
The entire area had a collective panic attack. Police sirens blared. Orange barricades went up, email blasts went out… it was crraaaaazy, I tells ya. Crraaaazy.
Fortunately cooler head prevailed and hikers simply moved the barricades aside and went off on their hikes. Besides, according to the local newspaper, Fish and Game never returned the city’s calls. Which makes me laugh. Turn about is fair play.
Here’s the article: Mountain Lion Sighting Briefly Closes Westwood Hills Park.
Read it — Golden retriever my ass. Hubby and I took our usual hike today (nobody was there but us) and we saw fresh mountain lion scat at the summit. He’d obviously been eating some of the gray squirrels. The reason the cat was near the road is because when the savvy city deer feel threatened they head for civilization, which means the main road.
However the preschool hiking group did not show up today. Sad. All they need to do is stick to the main trail and make sure an adult stays in the rear.
Here’s a Jake faux pas for you- He decided he needed to, pardon my French, poop in the backyard this morning, but the sprinklers were on. He found a relatively dry corner and did his business. When I headed out, bag in hand, to pick it up, he bounded outside after me, all happy and excited because he’s always happy and excited because as far as he’s concerned almost everything we do is fun. He bounded right past me and stepped right in it. Oh the horror! The look on his face was priceless, so human. He does not like to step in dog poop.
Oh that must have frosted you - is that the term? So the preschoolers didn’t show up - It is Halloween so perhaps they were parading in costume elsewhere.
Well, either frosts me or burns me, not sure which, Steph. Frankly I don’t really care. I would hate to have someone get hurt and I’d hate to see the cougar get hurt or killed. There are plenty of deer up there, so many squirrels it’s insane, plus loads of other animals. I suspect the hunting is pretty good.
Yes, you’re right, the kids may have been in costume and at a parade.
What goes ’round, comes ’round. At least they finally paid attention.
Does your mountain lion have a Colorado attitude? (Does he hum “Rocky Mountain High”?)
We had one up in Red Rocks, separate from the coyotes, obviously, but we haven’t seen the lion since last April. The park service posted signs, and hikers added markers and signs throughout the many side- and off-trails. Lots of kids and walkers with small dogs hike there, and you’ve got to go in with eyes wide open.
Good boy, Jake. Spread the love!
Yup, livin’ in lion country, Marylin! Have to admit I love it. But I hike with a big dog. I do worry about the hikers with chihuahuas, especially when they let them run off leash. Might make a tasty appetizer for a big cat.
Yeah, Jake didn’t feel the love. He thought it was totally gross!
Ahhhh, I love Jake…
They can’t say you didn’t warn them.
Poor Jake. That’s what Dizzy Dottie the Border Collie would do, too.
We should call you Cassandra! What a bunch of twits!
Hugs to you and Jake!
Sharon
Hahahahaha, I’m sure Jake’s face was priceless. But I’m sorry you had to clean the crap!
So did you call the guy back and say, “I told you so, %&&*&&@#(*&”
Yeah, Anny, he’s a hoot and a half!
True, Stephanie. So Dizzy would have stepped in poop or been horrified that she stepped in poop?
Funny, Sharon! Twits is right!
I did call them, Amber, and they still said… “Thank you for calling.” Maybe a robot answers the phone, who knows. Poor Jake!
You tried to tell ‘em, Ms. Julia. Typical bureaucratic run around.
Yup. Nailed it, Sandra.
Oh geez! It seems like no one believes anyone unless its accounted for multiple times. At least it finally got attention and no kids got et!’
At least they have a proper sign up though stating what to do if you see a mountain lion. That’s at least something.
Funny, Heather! Yes, I guess so. The parks department didn’t much care until one of their own people happened to see it- believe me, that was mere chance.