HikeArizona.COM

Associated Press
Aug. 28, 2006 07:05 AM
PRESCOTT - Day use areas around Granite Mountain in the Prescott National Forest were closed Sunday after a series of mountain lion sightings.

Seven men visiting the area first spotted the big cat more than a month ago, and Arizona Game and Fish officers searched for it without success, forest officials said.

This weekend, the cougar was sighted twice near Granite Basin Lake, about 10 miles northwest of Prescott, prompting the closures.

Areas closed include Granite Basin Lake, Cayuse Equestrian Area, Williamson Valley Trailhead and the Little Granite Mountain Trailhead 37. The Yavapai campground is expected to remain open.

Officials did not say how long the closures will remain in effect or if more searches are planned.

Has anyone ever thought of the ideal that big cats MIGHT naturally stalk people without attacking because of our size? They are curious and don't show themselves unless they want too. On most occasions if nothing happens and they are not seen then who knows if one is/was nearby. On a trip off the north rim of the G.C. a few years back my girlfriend who is small went for a nature break. When she came back a hiking companion who wouldn't make something like this up said she saw the backend of a big cat take off from the area my girlfriend had just visited.
On another note a bear and her cub had to be put down near the Ramsey Canyon Bed & Breakfast in the Huachucas by the AZ Game& Fish people today. The report said the 2 had been causing problems for several weeks in the area.

Fear not the Lion but you had better have a health level of respect for any large predator.

Big cats will stalk any animal that the cat feels is a potential meal.
The hunting guide who was chased up onto the hood of his pickup at dusk. Was at a watering hole and was in the right spot at the right time for a to see wild game. Water holes at dusk attract game, the guide knew that.

Cats hunt from dusk thru the night and know that prey can be found at and around watering holes.
This particular cat sighting was just before dusk with a watering hole between my location and the cat feeding on the pig. I was heading for the watering hole at dusk in hopes of spotting a herd of white tail deer that has been in the area. I often rake out the sand around the two watering holes near my house and return the next morning to see what showed up during the night. Thats how I found the white tail. No I'm not a hunter. I just enjoy wild life and find nature some much more interesting away from the trail.

I don't care what any tough guy might say. After every cat sighting I have experienced I have always walk away humbled. And pumped full of adrenaline.

I wouldn't be surprised if cougars stalking people occasionally happened, and people were unaware. We may not be normal prey, but we're still part of their environment when we're "out there." One of the reasons why we think the condors like to hang at the South Rim is because of the hordes of people. We've seen this behavior where they follow around/sit and watch groups of large mammals, presumably waiting for one to die. Sheep up north of Zion, cows on the Kaibab, and people on the South Rim. It's all instinctive, man...

As far as attacks by Pumas/Cougars/Mtn Lions, whatever you want to call them, they are unusual BUT given that we humans are taking their territory and making it smaller and smaller each year with our suburban development, it's not surprising that we are seeing more and more reports of sightings and attacks. I've seen a few tracks and one sighting, thankfully it was the pumpkin end as he/she stole off into the underbrush. I wanted nothing to do with him/her and he/she took off as soon as I was detected.

There was a huge problem in Sabino Canyon in Tucson not several years back where there were several Mtn Lions that actually stalked people because they lost their fear of people. All those homes and tourists in that area caught up to evolution.