County to Help Finance Census, Habitat Study of Mountain Lions

Six months after a 5-year-old girl was mauled by a mountain lion at Ronald W. Caspers Regional Park, Orange County supervisors agreed Tuesday to help finance a two-year census and study of mountain lions in south Orange County.

The National Audubon Society will conduct the study in an effort to determine how many of the large cats exist in the area and how to handle the impact on the animals of development in their rangeland habitat. Its cost was estimated at $72,000.

Supervisor Thomas F. Riley said the county, Rancho Mission Viejo and Chevron USA, which is a half-owner of the private Coto de Caza development, each would pay one-third of the estimated cost.

‘Many Sightings’

“I remind the Board of Supervisors that earlier this year, a tragic event took place at Caspers Wilderness Park when a young girl was attacked by a lion,” Riley said. “Since then, (the county Environmental Management Agency) staff has recorded many other sightings.

“I believe it is imperative that the county take steps to learn more about the lion population in this county and to establish management procedures that will help us handle contacts between the urban public and lions in those areas where we are experiencing increasing problems.”

On March 23, 5-year-old Laura Michele Small of El Toro was attacked by a young mountain lion that sprang from the brush in the park north of San Juan Capistrano. A lion believed to be the one that attacked the girl was shot and killed the next day, and the park was closed for nearly a month.

The attack left the child with multiple skull fractures, some brain and eye damage, and partial paralysis from puncture wounds. Her family has filed dual $28-million claims for damages against the county and the State of California, saying that both governmental entities failed to adequately warn park visitors of the danger.

Park Workers Approached

In July, a female mountain lion and her cub were captured in the 7,500-acre park. The animals had not attacked any humans, but park employees said the female was becoming bolder and was coming increasingly closer to workers.

Hunting of mountain lions, also known as cougars or pumas, has been banned in California since 1971. Since then, their numbers have been on the increase in Orange County and elsewhere, prompting efforts to renew legalized hunting.

Attacks by mountain lions on humans were considered rare because the big cats are generally fearful of people. The March 23 attack was the first serious one reported in California since the early 1900s, according to state Department of Fish and Game officials.

2 Years of Contributions

Supervisors agreed unanimously to contribute $14,334 this year nd $9,666 next year for the National Audubon Society project.

The society said it would conduct its fieldwork on the dirt roads of Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Dove Canyon Country Club, Starr Ranch Sanctuary, Caspers Wilderness Park and Wagon Wheel Canyon Regional Park.