Chow, chow, chow?

My wife, 4-year-old daughter and I were touring Moonridge Zoo in Big Bear, where two rescued mountain lions are in enclosures. The male lion ignored my wife and me but when he saw my red-haired daughter, TJ, he responded as if he’d heard a dinner bell. He paced, stared at her, licked his chops. Obviously, TJ was a desirable item on his menu. I’m no scientist, but it seems that this lion, and by extension all mountain lions, instinctively see vulnerable mammals as walking snacks. Since then, I’ve stayed close to TJ on hikes in the Santa Monicas. After this article, I’ll stay even closer.

Dexter Ford

Manhattan Beach