Here, Kitty, Kitty

[Fredwina]

Cougar attacks cyclist on Glendora Mountain Road In Los Angeles County:
http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_1034...ce=most_viewed
or
http://www.knbc.com/news/17325427/de...ss=la&psp=news

[Zen]

"Wild animals are destroyed if they become a public safety concern."

After one instance they go on the hunt?
That's just wrong.
If a dog repeatedly chases cyclists it takes a lot to get it put down and these animals are just following their instincts in their own natural habitat.

Wonder how fast that guy had to ride to get away from it?

[andtckrtoo]

Wonder how fast that guy had to ride to get away from it?

That is scary! I'll bet he had an adrenilin surge the likes of which he's never had!

Here in the Bay Area we have mountain lions as well. I would like to know when that rider was cycling as most cat attacks are early in the morning (dawn) or later in the evening (sunset). You rarely see a cat mid day.

The problem with mountain lions is that they have been federally protected for so long that they have lost their fear of humans, and they starting to over breed, forcing the younger cats into more populated areas (they have huge ranges) and to consider prey not typically considered (like pets and humans). I'm not saying that I agree with killing any that have shown up in neighborhoods, etc, but we've had a few found in trees near elementary schools in well populated areas. If you tranquilize them and move them, they simply return. I wish there was a better way to deal with the young cats.

[Jiffer]

Wow, Fredwina, that is way too freaky! Way to close to home ... literally! I'll have to send this to Alex, as he rides GMR a lot. I, too, wonder how fast he had to go to get away. I just had to flee from two dogs chasing me on Lytle Creek recently and it's not easy when you're going uphill! If he was going 20 at the time, I'm guessing he was on a reasonably flat area, maybe a slight incline. Alex might now where mile 9.3 is.

[mayanorange]

I remember when I was out in CA there was a couple people who didn't make it out as well (big bites to throats). I don't think it has to do with proximity of habitat- more to do with zipping past a preditor who's instinct is to leap on/chase fleeing deer, etc.

[Irulan]

That is scary! I'll bet he had an adrenilin surge the likes of which he's never had!

Here in the Bay Area we have mountain lions as well. I would like to know when that rider was cycling as most cat attacks are early in the morning (dawn) or later in the evening (sunset). You rarely see a cat mid day.

The problem with mountain lions is that they have been federally protected for so long that they have lost their fear of humans, and they starting to over breed, forcing the younger cats into more populated areas (they have huge ranges) and to consider prey not typically considered (like pets and humans). I'm not saying that I agree with killing any that have shown up in neighborhoods, etc, but we've had a few found in trees near elementary schools in well populated areas. If you tranquilize them and move them, they simply return. I wish there was a better way to deal with the young cats.

Cougar protection is on a state by state basis; each state establishes it's own laws regarding hunting limits etc. Eastern subspecies are on the endanagered species list, western ones are not. In fact every state west of the Mississippi allows cougar hunting to some degree except for California.

The habitat encroachment issues is the real issue. There is a very interesting book The Beast in the Garden: The True Story of a Predator's Deadly Return to Suburban America that is an easy, factual read that explores all sides of the cougar issue in a balanced fashion.

[tygab]

cougar fatalities are extremely rare, still, like perhaps 1-2 a year across both the US and Canada. I don't mean to trivialize it but there are 20-30 people killed by [pet] dog attacks a year, with many more harmed. Yet we rarely think about the risk of that, and amplify our perceived risk of wild animal attack. Kind of like bike vs car risk stats. We get a few bear-in-the-backyard scenarios around this area every year and frequently the bear is killed by cops (sometimes AC officers), even if it hasn't attacked anything.

I'm sure the cyclist was still terrified as I think we all would be in that situation, and he is lucky that cat missed his wheel...

I "feel" like I saw a cougar when my husband and I were cycling in BC on a back road along a mountain valley with farms two years ago; it was an animal with a long large tail in a field, which bounded like a cat, but it was on the opposite side of a field quite far away. I will never know for sure but even it did give me a lot of pause, and if it was something else, I'd love to know what...

[Fredwina]

He was apparently riding at twilight, which may not have been a wise move.
Jiffer, I've been avoiding Lytle Creek Rd b/c of dogs (Right before the Valero, right?)

[Jiffer]

He was apparently riding at twilight, which may not have been a wise move.
Jiffer, I've been avoiding Lytle Creek Rd b/c of dogs (Right before the Valero, right?)

Yes, it's one of the houses right there. It's happened twice to me. The first time I saw the dog coming up the hill and thought, "Not to worry, there's a fence." But right when the dog got the top of the hill is right when the fence apparently ENDED and I was being chased by a dog. The most recent time it was two dogs. I started speeding away at first and then just yelled at them all loud with authority, "Stop it!", and they went away. Someone ought to talk to the owner. I nominate Tom Tisler! Our "leader"!

[Fredwina]

Yes, it did that to me. I've talked with Tom T. (club president) about it. I've been avioding that by taking Summit to Sierra (more cars )

[Aggie_Ama]

Jiffer- I had such a problem with two dogs on a local route I started calling the sheriff- EVERY TIME. They weren't leashed and the gate to the house was constantly left open. After the pit bull nipped at my feet (my husband thought it grazed my foot) I started calling. One day an SUV pulled between me and the dog to keep it back. I wrote the woman a thank you as a letter to the editor, I really felt I was in danger that day.

It wasn't a route I could avoid unless I rode north of my house, all routes south led right by them. The dogs are gone, either they got hit by a car or others reported them as well.

Surprisingly Texas motorists aren't known for liking cyclists but our local Sheriff Department is really nice about calling them.