[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v--IqqusnNQ[/youtube]
Some information on laws and management throughout the western states (varies a lot from state to state):
http://www.wildlifemanagementinstitute.org/PDF/2-Culling%20Mountain%20Lions....pdfInformation on CA laws from a protection oriented source (exploring the site beyond this link provides more details):
http://mountainlion.org/117_7_Facts.aspA research project in the nearby Santa Cruz mountains (where I often roam) and links to several articles:
http://www.felidaefund.org/research/bapp.htmlI haven't seen a mountain lion yet (aside from one leaping up a 30 foot embankment while we were driving in SEKI at night), but I suspect they have seen me. It's been quiet for awhile, but reports of young ones being removed from backyards in residential neighborhoods and from areas adjacent to school grounds are common where I live. The fuss about it isn't big. BTW, the names given to the cougars in the research project are interesting. Obama and Etta jump out at me, along with some names from recent novels and from the
The Lion King (my kids can finally stand the fear factor of that film, but aren't yet ready for
The wizard of Oz, and especially not
Deliverance.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YApNirMC9gM[/youtube]