http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2009/01/09/reporters-notes-tracking-urban-lions/ Science, Environment, and Nature in the SF Bay Area Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:39:48 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2009/01/09/reporters-notes-tracking-urban-lions/comment-page-1/#comment-65516 Kimbro Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:41:34 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=1068#comment-65516 It is 11:30PM. The cows were mooing intensely which is not normal for them at this time of night. They were gathered on a section of the hill and not moving. Just mooing like crazy. I couldn't see anything with my flashlight other than the eye reflections from the cows (wide apart and white in color). I got out the 1000 watt worklights and shone them on the hill. The cows were trying to escort a baby with a bad leg down the hill. Two mountain lions appear in the light. First the narrow yellow colored reflections then the outline of their long sleek bodies. One stepped into the light toward my direction and backed away. They both walked off beyond the horizon the the hilltop. Very quiet. I have never seen one before, let alone two at once. I did not know that they traveled or hunted in pairs. We have seen plenty of bobcats which are intimidating enough, just never cougars. We live in Sunol. Animal control had no interest in any of our prior contacts about the bobcats so I assume they won't care about this either. Any insights appreciated. It is 11:30PM. The cows were mooing intensely which is not normal for them at this time of night. They were gathered on a section of the hill and not moving. Just mooing like crazy. I couldn't see anything with my flashlight other than the eye reflections from the cows (wide apart and white in color). I got out the 1000 watt worklights and shone them on the hill. The cows were trying to escort a baby with a bad leg down the hill. Two mountain lions appear in the light. First the narrow yellow colored reflections then the outline of their long sleek bodies. One stepped into the light toward my direction and backed away. They both walked off beyond the horizon the the hilltop. Very quiet. I have never seen one before, let alone two at once. I did not know that they traveled or hunted in pairs. We have seen plenty of bobcats which are intimidating enough, just never cougars. We live in Sunol. Animal control had no interest in any of our prior contacts about the bobcats so I assume they won't care about this either. Any insights appreciated.

]]> http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/2009/01/09/reporters-notes-tracking-urban-lions/comment-page-1/#comment-62183 Ariana Mindelzun Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:59:21 +0000 http://www.kqed.org/quest/blog/?p=1068#comment-62183 Thank you for the story, "Tracking Urban Lions". Most coverage of mountain lions is highly sensationalized, overdramatically focused on their threat towards humans and not scientifically focused. This story was quite the opposite. It was scientific and factual, acurate when discussing mountain lions (actual) minor threat towards humans, and informative in describing the local research on them. Thank you very much, the public deserves to be accurately informed on the world of science and you did this with this story! Thank you for the story, "Tracking Urban Lions".
Most coverage of mountain lions is highly sensationalized, overdramatically focused on their threat towards humans and not scientifically focused. This story was quite the opposite. It was scientific and factual, acurate when discussing mountain lions (actual) minor threat towards humans, and informative in describing the local research on them.
Thank you very much, the public deserves to be accurately informed on the world of science and you did this with this story!

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