Saw A Huge Cat Last Night...

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

I was heading over to Redding and was driving up the West side of Buckhorn Summit on 299... Was between 2000-3000' elevation.
Was clipping along at 55mph and I saw the biggest mountain lion I've ever seen!!!
It was a male and he was glaring into my headlights, was standing alongside the road just at the end of a gaurdrail.
I kid you not... This thing had to be at least 275lbs.
Go ahead and laugh, all my coworkers did today...
I've seen about a dozen mountain lions in my time, but never while driving and nothing as big as this one was.
Hell... This thing could have easily tipped the scales at 300.
The experience showed me first hand that I need to rethink my plans a bit and be more careful when I take my family out in the woods.
Would not want to come face to face with one that big without a gun...

[satch]

On occasion, we get them wandering around the American River, not far from homes. With the deer population exploding, the cats are right behind them.

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Satch,
I swear if this cat could have been documented, it would have easily shattered the record of 276 lbs.
I was so blown away, I forgot to dim my high beams for the next four or five cars going the other way.

[Nitetimes]

Ya know them little black tail deer you got out there look surprisingly like a big cat in the dark.....

[satch]

That sounds like a big boy. I know on some of the trails I hike, they are putting out fresh signs to warn people to be on the lookout for them. where I camp, just outside of Marysville, I could have sworn I seen a wolf. It must have been a coyote, but this was the size of a german sheperd. I never heard of wolf in this part of Cali before, but this area is seeing alot more animals, that are hard to find, more often.

[doug hodder]

That's one big kitty Dean! I wish I knew more about paw prints and how to judge sizes. Had some fresh ones in the back yard in the snow from a cat a couple of years ago. My neighbor lost a couple of goats to it. I'd let Daisy out to pee and I took a 9MM with me when we went at night. Hey, it's Calif. but it ain't all Hollywood!...Always a stunning experience to run into a big cat! Doug

[MOKI SEAKER]

We just shoot them, its legal in Utah, and we don't have much of a problem with them scaring the tourest. There is plenty of room for them, but if they get among the people it is not a good thing. Jim

[dguff]

We heard what we think was a mountain lion in our neighborhood a couple of months ago. A very distinct "scream". We live next to an undeveloped, very wooded, gully which is full of wildlife such as skunks, deer, racoons, possum, foxes, and bears. We have seen them all from time to time. During a week or so before we heard the lion in the middle of the night nearly all of the usual critters we observe had been missing from their usual patterns of activity and the neighborhood dogs had been barking way more than normal. Things returned to "normal" about 3 or 4 days after we heard the sound we think was a mountain lion.

Jerome

[rbeemer]

here kitty kitty here kitty kitty......nice kitty

[Ron Dickey]

a freind who use to live up there and use to hunt said he could feel there peresence when in the woods he would walk along and feel a cheel down his back turn w/gun in hand and look up and there they were every time. He did not shoot them but was very carful as he left the area.

Around here we have ones to they go after dogs, one got attact yesterday in Atastcadero, an old pit bul, he lived thru it.

the cats go to the Coyotees who howl at night in trio.

and Doug!!! the racoons are waiting for your return. big as medium size dogs

Ron D.

[cuyeda]

With all of the recent fires, perhaps the animals are more daring venturing closer to humanity. Perhaps the normal food chain sources are less abundant. Looking forward to camping in the Redwoods again!

Ron D. Why don't you gather up all those racoons at SLO, and bring em' up to the Redwoods area. Here kitty, kitty!

[traveler]

That is ok Dean, I believe you. Wait till someone else sees something and everyone laughs, then they will think twice (Co-workers only)
I see deer here everyday and sometimes wish I had something to shoot with. BB gun doesn't work.

[S. Heisley]

We've had mountain lions and bears shot out of trees in peoples' back yards in the mini-metropolis of Redding CA. Mountain lions are still listed as an endangered species in California. They were put on the list when there were only an estimated 200 left in the state. Now, it is estimated that there are many more than 2000 in this state.

I don't have to even think about it. I believe Dean.