OUTDOOR NOTES : Foothill Sightings of Mountain Lions

There has been a “significant number” of mountain lion sightings in local foothills, according to DFG officials, who believe that the animals are preying on domestic animals.

DFG warden Ken Walton said it appears that in the Glendora area at least one lion “has discovered an easy prey source and is very interested in the area’s domestic animals.”

Walton was referring to a reported sighting by a woman who had recently replaced a lost dog--presumably taken by a mountain lion--with a puppy.

“From Glendora to Claremont along the base of the foothills we’ve had many confirmed and unconfirmed lion sightings and attacks on domestic animals,” Walton said in a news release.

A healthy mountain lion population coupled with habitat loss for the territorial animals, which have large ranges, are among reasons for the increased sightings.

“We have lions walking through and into back yards,” Walton said.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Sierra, several Bishop residents reported sighting a lion roaming the streets last week. Officials believe the lion was after sheep in a local pasture, where five have been killed in the past few months.

Population estimates have been made and trends evaluated, so the Fish and Game Commission adopted the 1991-92 upland game regulations, altering some seasons and leaving others unchanged.

The mourning dove season will begin without significant change, starting its first half on Sept. 1, as usual, and running through Sept. 15. The second half will run Nov. 9-21. Bag limits remain 10 a day, 20 in possession.

The white-wing dove season in Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties will coincide with the general dove season, with a combined take limit of 10 a day, 20 in possession.

Band-tailed and American crow regulations remain unchanged, with open season on band-tails Dec. 14-19 and on crows Sept. 28-Jan. 29, 1992.

Pheasant hunters will observe regulations enforced in the northern part of the state for years, taking males only, a change aimed at protecting relocated stocks.

The bulk of the harvest in Southern California had been of pen-reared farm pheasants, and efforts are under way to establish a wild population--hence the need for the change, according to Department of Fish and Game biologists.

The general season for ring-necked pheasants will run Nov. 9-Dec. 8, allowing hunters two roosters daily, four in possession.

Bow hunters can still take hens, but not more than one as part of a daily bag limit of two birds. Bow hunting for pheasants is proposed to run Dec. 9-Jan. 7, 1992.

Falconry season is unchanged, falconers retaining a two-bird daily limit with no restrictions on the take of male or female pheasants. the season will open on Oct. 1 and run through Feb. 29, 1992.

Quail, grouse and ptarmigan hunts have been altered slightly; hunters should contact DFG or license outlets for dates and bag limits.

The Sacramento Arm of Lake Shasta has been reopened for sportfishing, according to the Department of Fish and Game. It had been closed since July 22 because of the effects of the July 14 spill of herbicide into the upper Sacramento River.

The entire lake is now open for fishing, the DFG said.

Health officials have determined that the consumption of fish taken from the Sacramento arm does not pose a risk, and DFG officials say that there are no health-related restrictions on fishing, swimming, boating or any other recreational activity at the lake.

Briefly

FISHING--Reports of schools of tuna 160 miles south of Pt. Loma have the San Diego skippers optimistic, but they were disappointed earlier in the season by the disappearance of sizable albacore schools. Medium-range boats have encountered the schools of tuna--mostly yellowfin--and two-day trips are required for the search.

A 49-pound bluefin tuna taken aboard Fisherman’s Landing’s Prowler by Robert Yamane of Canyon Country was tops in the tuna category in the Saltwater Derby being held at landings from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Santa Barbara’s SEA Landing, primarily with the boat Condor, maintains a strong lead in the summer tournament, with 17 anglers in the top 10 of several categories. Fisherman’s is second with 13 anglers placing in the top 10 for categories A-F, each involving different species of fish.

The Saltwater Whoppers tournament, presented by Western Outdoor News and the Sportfishing Assn. of California, is at the halfway point.

Baja: Blue marlin are the primary current attraction and the fish are apparently cooperating.

MISCELLANY--The Kern River and its trout and smallmouth bass populations will be the subject of a presentation by Kelvin Gregory at the Sierra Pacific Fly Fishers meeting on Aug. 15 at the Odyssey Restaurant in Mission Hills. Details: (818) 785-7306.

GRUNION--Runs are predicted along dark, sandy beaches Sunday through next Wednesday, beginning at 10:55 p.m. Sunday and approximately an hour later on successive nights.