RECREATION / Keeping clear of mountain lions / Cougar attacks are rare, but civilization's encroachment could make them more common
The East Bay wilderness offers excellent hiking with breathtaking vistas. But before you knock the dirt off your boots and head to the woods for some spring serendipity, wildlife experts advise you to consider some safety precautions -- namely keeping an eye out for mountain lions in the wake of headline-making attacks in Southern California.
Although cougar sightings around Northern California are more frequent, attacks on humans are rare, experts with the state Department of Fish and Game said.
"We get lots of calls about sightings, especially after a story comes out about an attack in California," said Allan Buckmann, a wildlife biologist with the department for 35 years. When the department investigates a sighting, Buckmann said, 20 to 30 percent of the critters reported turn out to be house cats.
"You step out of your house and you're at much higher risk of being struck by lightning than you are being attacked by a mountain lion," Buckmann said. "It raises people's fears, which is logical, but in reality there are very few attacks on humans."
The animals typically try to avoid people.
According to the State Department of Fish and Game, 14 attacks on humans have been verified in California since 1890; nine since 1992. Six attacks have resulted in fatalities - two from rabies, which is common in the animals, especially during summer months.
It is not surprising there are more sightings each year, however. Experts say about half the state is prime mountain lion territory. They estimate there are 4,000 to 6,000 adult mountain lions in California. And as suburbia marches toward the foothills and mountains, more encounters are expected. Mountain lions are abundant in places where deer are plentiful.
The East Bay hills are no exception. Buckmann said the state gets calls frequently about mountain lion sightings from outdoor enthusiasts and residents whose homes abut the foothills or mountains in and around Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
Mountain lions have been given "protected" status since 1990, after they were hunted for bounty for decades.
Even though attacks on humans are unusual, experts say people's concerns are not unfounded.
In early January, an Orange County mountain biker was killed by a mountain lion that attacked him in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, the first fatal attack since 1994.
According to news accounts, the 35-year-old man had stopped to fix the chain on his bicycle when he was attacked and disemboweled by the cougar. Later that afternoon, a female cyclist was attacked by the same cat, experts believe. She survived after other people she was traveling with threw stones at the animal.
One thing that has contributed to attacks is that people don't know what to do when they have a close encounter with cougars, which are identifiable by their tawny color, black-tipped ears and tails. They are usually 7 to 10 feet long and weigh from 65 to 150 pounds.
Experts advise that if you encounter a cougar, stand tall. "Make yourself look bigger," Buckmann said.
It also helps if you raise your arms, moving them slowly, and speak in a firm, loud voice. If you're wearing a jacket, open it. Throw stones, branches or whatever else you can grab without bending over or turning your back.
Never crouch or run from the animal. Erratic movement can stir the cat to attack. People on bicycles or jogging have been attacked, experts say, because the mountain lions have mistaken them for deer. Jogging or cycling after dusk in the mountains is not advised, as that is near feeding time for cougars.
If you're planning on hiking, running or cycling in areas known to be mountain lion habitats, do so in groups. If you are alone and happen to encounter a lion, experts advise that you maintain eye contact and give it room to escape.
If you are hiking with children, keep them close to you. If your children are afraid, maintain eye contact with the lion, try not to bend over, but pick up your child so he or she will not try to run.
Never approach a lion. Fight back if attacked. People have survived attacks, experts say, using rocks, sticks or their bare hands. Since mountain lions try to bite the head or neck, try to remain on your feet and face the attacking animal.
"Most people will find they can enjoy nature, peacefully co-existing with cougars," Buckmann said. "They're always out there. We just rarely see them. They don't like people. We're not a preferred food source."
Cougars' normal prey are deer, bighorn sheep and elk.
If you happen to encounter a rabid mountain lion, it's a slightly more serious situation. Usually the animal -- a nocturnal creature -- will act oddly, stumbling or staggering about in daylight. Buckmann's best advice is to stay away from the animal and let it go on its way. He also advises people who see a cat acting strangely to report the sighting to the department.
Buckmann recalled a close encounter he had a few years back with a mountain lion. He was out one afternoon, doing his job hiking through the hills near Point Reyes when he saw what he recognized as an adult male mountain lion about a quarter mile in the distance. He used his spotting scope to appreciate the creature from afar. The lion was oblivious to him being there and the two went their separate ways after a few minutes.
"I was a long way from him, and vice versa," Buckmann said. "I never felt threatened. My advice to people is use common sense. Pay attention and be alert to your surroundings. Most mountain lion sightings are not a problem. A calm head will usually prevail."
If you encounter a cougar, or you or somebody you know is attacked, report it as soon as possible to the Department of Fish and Game's 24-hour dispatch center at (916) 445-0045.
For more information or a brochure on living with California mountain lions, call the Department of Fish and Game's Northern California-North Coast Region division at (530) 225-2300 or visit the department's Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov.