To
Co-Exist With Lions
by Christina Duane
Recent
Mountain Lion encounters here in San Juan
Creek have given me cause to reflect on
the years of peaceful co-existance with
them. I believe that these recent encounters
could have presented us with an opportunity
to adjust our own behavior in order to co-exist
with these lions. It is not abnormal for
Mountain lions to be found in a lush covered
creek-bed full of wildlife, nor is it abnormal
for them to consider small children as possible
prey and yet we are hearing that this is
abnormal and this is why they will be caught
and killed. Although I believe the authorities
are acting in what they believe is the publics
best interest, I believe, that with public
awareness and effort, there could be another
solution that is a win-win for both man
and beast.
Over
10 years ago while walking in Irvine Park,
I had the privilege of encountering a California
Mountain Lion. Thirty feet ahead of me,
sprawling under a giant Sycamore, lay a
young Mountain Lion. I knew I must not run
and because it was smaller than a full-grown
lion, I felt more compelled to walk toward
it than retreat but I stood still. We stared
at each other for what seemed like several
minutes both of us stunned and mesmerized.
Then he turned and leaped away with his
long thick tail dismissing any thought that
I had seen a giant bobcat.
I
have hiked many miles for many years in
Mountain Lion Country, from the Santa Ana
Mountains, Santa Monica Mountains, and San
Jacinto, to The Sequoia Mountains, the Eastern
Sierra Nevada, the Colorado Rockies and
The Oregon Siquious. All the while, following
strict precautionary measures such as keeping
my children directly at my side no matter
how much they wanted to run ahead or lag
behind. I am convinced that we were watched
curiously, maybe even considered as possible
prey at some point but by following the
precautions suggested for mountain lion
encounters, we were not considered easy
prey. We accepted the risk to enjoy the
beauty of mountains just as we should be
willing to accept the risks that come with
living connected to a wilderness area.
I do not believe that these San Juan Creek
Lions are any different than those further
out in the wild. They can also become convinced
we are not prey. What is different is how
many people would have to except the ongoing
possibility of encountering a lion, change
their walking habits (not alone), and exercise
extreme vigilance with their children and
their pets, if the lions were to be left
alone. It may also take confrontations,
where the lions are scared off and get the
message several times becoming convinced
by our behavior that we are not prey. If
some parents or pet owners didn't take the
risk seriously, there could be serious consequence.
We would need the signs as they have up
in O'Neill and Irvine Parks where people
live side by side with the lions.
There
are steps that could be taken to make the
area safer. Clearing some of the thick vegetation
that provides cover for the lions around
the equestrian center, and higher fences
all the way around Ambuehl School to name
a few.
Coexistence with these lions in San Juan Creek would
require a change in our way of life. Once
we could let children walk to the store
alone, now because of human predators, we
don't. Once we could fly without a second
thought, and now we remember a world changed
after September 11th. We are tired of being
vigilant. We want our children to be able
to walk to school, to run and play and be
safe. Yet these lions are not human predators,
nor terrorists but victims of our encroachment
on their habitat. Shooting them is not a
long-term solution but an easy way to regain
our own peace and sanctity temporarily.
The question is "How much inconvenience
are we willing to endure for the Mountain
Lion and are we just too battle weary anymore
to make the effort?"
©
Copyright 2003 Purpose Media and Christina
Duane.
No unauthorized duplication without written
consent.
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