| Sabino
Canyon lion information |
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Mountain Lion
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Sabino
Canyon lion information |
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 Mountain
Lion Workshop Information
Review
the Tucson mountain lion workshop report and check
additional workshop dates and locations.
Overview
The Arizona Game and Fish Department and U.S. Forest Service
have been receiving reports of mountain sightings
in Sabino Canyon since July 2003, including more recent incidents when cougars
have stalked people. Normally, mountain lions are secretive by nature and are
seldom seen by people.
In February 2004, professional animal trackers in Sabino Canyon verified the
presence of at least three and perhaps four mountains lions in the area.
Mountain lion danger signals
Mountain lion experts in the West, including those with the Arizona Game and
Fish Department, say there are mountain lion danger signals, which are: lions
are daylight active, they show no fear of humans and they have been stalking
people. The mountain lions in Sabino Canyon are exhibiting aggressive, aberrant
behavior.
Predator-prey response
The basic instinct of large predators, such as mountain lions, is to chase and
catch moving prey. It's called a predator-prey response. Sabino Canyon has around
2,000 people a day hiking, jogging and mountain biking in a boulder-strewn terrain
full of potential ambush spots.
Although mountain lion attacks on humans are
uncommon, such attacks have been on the increase during the last 14 years in
the West, especially in outdoor recreational areas.
One mountain lion attack occurred in California Jan. 8 in a high-use recreation
area where people were jogging and mountain biking; the mountain lion attacked
two people on the same day, killing one.
Relocating mountain lions
Relocating mountain lions is not an option. It would be irresponsible to move
a public safety liability to a new location.
Also, mountain lions are extremely territorial. Relocating one could result in
one or both mountain lions being killed or injured. Such action could also result
in a mountain lion being displaced, putting it into conflict with a cougar in
another territory or even end up in an area occupied by people.
There is no zoo option
Capturing a mountain lion alive and placing it in a zoo is not a viable option.
There is only a limited need for mountain lions for zoos, and those needs are
more than filled by captive reproduction.
Mountain lion aversion techniques
Mountain lion aversion techniques are costly and impractical, and don't appear
to work.
For example, aversion techniques were tried on two lions frequenting high-recreational
use areas of Yosemite Valley, Calif., in October 2003. The efforts did not work
and officials ultimately had to use lethal removal methods because of concerns
for public safety.
Fencing is not an option
Some have suggested fencing the area to exclude the mountain lions. This is not
realistic. The closure area is extremely rough country covering about 30 square
miles, stretching from Ventana Canyon on the west side of Sabino Canyon to the
Mt. Lemmon Highway to the east. Even if time and money were available for such
a monumental undertaking, a fence would threaten other wildlife, such as deer,
that rely on Sabino Canyon for water.
These mountain lions have lost their fear of humans and are already frequenting
an area where people have built homes. The entire area cannot be fenced off. |
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