Mountain Lions are present in the hills and mountains throughout California, but they are rarely seen. Attacks on humans are extremely rare, but when they happen, they make the evening news. The last and only recorded mounain lion attack on humans in Santa Clara County occurred in 1909 in Morgan Hill. These large carnivores are usually only active at night, which is why it's a good idea to obey the closure hours at the county parks. Their favorite food is deer, so if you see deer, chances are there are mountain lions around. Ironically, deer have actually caused more human deaths (not intentionally) than mountain lions (see http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/vme/ARNHA/graph3.html).

Deer are common in the Santa Teresa Hills, and mountain lions have been seen in and around the hills. (See
http://www.almaden.ibm.com/almaden/environs/mtlion.html) One old lion reportedly lives near the 9th hole at the Santa Teresa Golf Course. I once saw a large cat's head peering up from the grass below the Muriel Wright facility in the park. Be cautious when hiking through the hills, but rattlesnakes, ticks, and poison oak pose more of a danger than mountain lions, and coyotes pose more of a danger to pets.

Here are some Web sites with information and advice about mountain lions:

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lion/index.html
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/lion/outdoor.lion.html
http://www.gorp.com/gorp/publishers/falcon/mtn_lion.htm
http://www.gorp.com/gorp/interact/guests/torr_ans.htm
http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/vme/ARNHA/lionhome.html

There are informational signs in the county parks, including Santa Teresa and Almaden Quicksilver, that talk about mountain lions and how to deal with them.

There are also bobcats in the hills. They are very shy and are relatively harmless to humans. Here's how to tell them apart from mountain lions:
http://www.canyonlife.com/O%27NeillPark.folder/KERRYWEB/wildcats.htm

Remember that mountain lions are protected by state law (Proposition 117). The law, passed in 1990, prohibits hunting mountain lions for sport, but it does allow removing animals that threaten public health or safety. The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is the agency empowered to deal with mountain lions.

Here's what the DFG says:

            IMMEDIATELY REPORT
            ALL ENCOUNTERS OR ATTACKS

If you are involved in a face-to-face encounter with, or an attack by, a mountain lion, contact the California Department of Fish and Game 24 hour dispatch center at (916) 445-0045. The threat to public safety will be assessed and any appropriate action will be taken. Also report any sightings of dead or injured mountain lions.

Ronald Horii