If you live near a wilderness area and have lost a pet recently, chances are it was an easy meal for a mountain lion.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) recently completed a study of 107 mountain lions that were legally killed last year. 83 of those animals had their stomach contents analyzed. The results showed that 52 percent were found to have eaten cats, dogs or other domestic animals. Only 5 percent had eaten deer, which experts will tell you are their favorite food.
Of the other lio
ns, 16 percent were not studied, 9 percent had an empty stomach and 18 percent had contents that were too digested to be identified.
Pets may have also accounted for a good share of that 18 percent. If you consider that fact, it could mean that more than 60 percent of the lions ate cats, dogs and other domestic animals.
The DFW’s study has not been released to the public as of yet. Their information officer, Andrew Hughan said, “As a pet owner you have a responsibility for the safety of that animal, especially if you live in an open space or wild habitat. When out walking, keep it on a leash or keep a very close eye, look around, above and behind you for wild animals.”
Hughan said that the problems of predators, including coyotes, eating domestic animals is so widespread that the DFW is holding numerous public meetings about the issue.
