Near-Attack by Cougar Reported

Just days after Orange County reopened a wilderness park to unlimited use by children, hikers reported being charged this week by an aggressive female mountain lion that came within three feet of youngsters.

The Sunday incident involving the animal also known as a cougar has convinced county Supervisor Charles V. Smith that his board needs to consider reversing its decision to fully open Caspers Wilderness Park to minors for the first time in nearly six years.

“It’s really obvious that we have a big problem and we’re premature in opening it up to children,” Smith said Thursday. “It’s obvious the mountain lion population in this wilderness park is not compatible with use by children.”

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The 7,500-acre park east of Mission Viejo was closed to minors in 1992 after the family of a girl severely mauled there in 1986 won a suit against the county. The award of $2.1 million for the mountain lion attack on Laura Small, who was 5 at the time, was later reduced to $1.5 million.

In 1995, minors were allowed back into the park with some restrictions. Those under 18 were only permitted in the campgrounds and day-use areas. They were not allowed on the trails without adult supervision.

Smith, along with Supervisor Todd Spitzer, strongly objected to the 3-2 vote Dec. 16 that again gave young people unlimited use of the park.

This week’s incident involved two women and four children near the day-use area along the main trail, said Senior Park Ranger John Gannaway. The mountain lion apparently came out of the brush toward the people and began circling them--a classic stalking maneuver.

Then, hissing and baring its teeth, it charged at the group and came within three feet of the children--ages 5, 6, 7 and 8--before it was chased off.

Later that day, the cougar moved even closer to the day-use area, exhibiting unusually calm behavior even after being observed by another group of hikers. At that point, officials with the state Department of Fish and Game decided the animal should be killed that day, Gannaway said.

“They determined that it was a threat to public safety. Because it was such an aggressive encounter--a charge within three feet of a child--they decided the best course of action was to eliminate the cat,” he said.

A preliminary exam showed that the cougar was physically healthy, well-nourished and not producing any milk. Females are known to be more aggressive when protecting young cubs, he said.

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Gannaway, a veteran ranger, called the confrontation an “unusual and isolated” one, since mountain lions typically avoid contact with humans. The incident Sunday is the first aggressive case in 11 years, he said.

But Smith remains unconvinced Hthat a similar encounter won’t happen again and said he plans to bring up the issue at the Board of Supervisors’ Jan. 13 meeting.

He questioned why park officials did not inform him of the attack. “I don’t know what action was taken. That’s why I think [the Dec. 16 decision] needs to be revisited,” he said. Gannaway said Fish and Game didn’t release official word of the attack earlier because it was still gathering information.