Mountain Lion Sightings More Growl Than Bite

A spate of mountain lion sightings in recent weeks reminds us how--even here in the nation’s second-largest city--the wildness of nature is never far. The sight of cougars lazing in driveways or loping across an open hillside inspired awe rather than panic in many residents of the San Fernando Valley. But the sightings, which stretched from Shadow Hills to Woodland Hills, also sparked wrongheaded calls for the lifting of a state ban on hunting the cats for sport.

Since 1990, California cougars have enjoyed the protection of Proposition 117, a ballot initiative that formalized a 1972 ban on the hunting of mountain lions. Last year, sport hunters attempted to dupe voters with Proposition 197, which would have opened the door to mountain lion hunts under the guise of public protection and wildlife management. Lifting the ban was a bad idea last year, and the recent Valley sightings do nothing to change that.

True, the number of cougar encounters has increased in recent years--as has the number of deaths and injuries. Scientists figure that as both cougar and human populations grow, the odds of collision grow greater. Most of the sightings occurred in neighborhoods adjacent to the wild areas that are cougar habitat. While the recent sightings should cause concern, the risks are minimal. More Californians died of bee stings in the past century than from mountain lion attacks.

Mountain lions are shy creatures that generally avoid human contact except when ill or desperate for food. The rare attacks on humans often come when the animal feels threatened. When they do pose a danger to humans or domestic animals, cougars can be--and are--killed by wildlife officials under current law. Ideally, it should not come to that. The cougars spotted in recent weeks appear to be on their way back to the mountains, and a little common sense can ensure they make it safely.

Residents who come across a cougar should not run away. Instead, back away slowly and shout or make noise. Homeowners who live next to wild areas should keep small pets inside at night and keep trash secured--precautions that also make property less attractive to coyotes. In neighborhoods near wild habitat, small children should never be left unattended.

Both cougars and coyotes have traipsed the Valley for hundreds of generations. Humans are the visitors on this land--and it is our incursions into cougar territory that have sparked their recent visits. We should remember that, and give a wide berth to the creatures that preceded us.