>Probably lots... they're doing very well in most of
>California especially since we outlawed hunting them several
>years back. Most think they're overpopulated now. The Fish &
>Game biologist I knew well in Springville told me they live
>near golf courses, city parks, etc. and since they're so
>secretive you'll probably never even know they're there. And
>he's concerned about a declining deer population and of
>increasing reports of pets being taken.
>
>I've seen many bobcat, at least 3-4 dozen. Just saw one two
>weeks ago... They're not dangerous to people. I don't think
>I've ever seen a mountain lion. Once while hiking at Henry
>Coe State Park I saw a cat but due to its distance and the fog
>present at the time I couldn't tell if it was a bobcat or
>mountain lion. I waved my trekking poles about and made
>myself look bigger and more formidable just in case...
>Hi, Carol,
Great to hear from you. I hope you guys are getting all settled into your new home.
That was the first mountain lion I've ever seen in the wild. Too bad it was dead.
I posed my question to the Ranger Naturalists at NPS and one wrote back. It was a very interesting response. This cat was P9, meaning he was the 9th cat they know of in the Santa Monica Mountains. However,that doesn't mean there are nine residing there now. A few have died or were killed by other mountain lions. Some of the ones that died were either hit by cars or died as a result of eating poisoned game. I saved the actual post bavk from the ranger, but it's on my work email. I'll post it here when I go back to work on Monday.
What was kind of interesting was that for the last several weeks I've noticed way fewer deer on campus. I thought that was strange considering the fact Pepperdine is about the only green belt in the area and has plenty of water too. I wrote the ranger back asn asked about that. I said I thought the deer may have picked up the scent of the mountain lion and skeedadled 
He said that was possible but also that mountain lion eat an average of three deer a month!
By the way, the deer seem to be coming back now. One family hangs around our building in the afternoon and the momma deer naps on our back door mat
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" I lift up mine eyes to the hills, whence cometh my help.", Psalm 121
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