S.F. lion a testament to spike in wildlife
When a mountain lion appeared in San Francisco last week, people wondered, “What the heck is it doing here?”
When wildlife is crowded in one area, the strong of the species often will drive off (or eat) the weak to reduce competition for food and mates. That forces others to find their own turf.
The lion in San Francisco is also a testament to a golden age for wildlife. In a case-by-case review, populations are often the highest in a century. As a byproduct, animals are appearing in places they haven’t been seen before.
Sierra bighorn sheep:
In the late 1990s, about 100 Sierra bighorn were left on the planet, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. In the latest counts, roughly 600.
Elk:
A San Joaquin Valley rancher in 1874 is credited for saving the last breeding pair of tule elk. In 1977, seven elk, the seeds for future transplants, were introduced to the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area near Suisun City. The Grizzly Island herd now numbers more than 300. Transplants have established 21 herds with 5,100 animals.
Bald eagles:
In 1963, scientists counted 487 bald-eagle pairs. They are now projected to hit 15,000 in the next year or two. In the Bay Area in the late 1980s, a mated pair was transplanted from Canada; the latest counts in the region: 21 pairs, 200 baby chicks and sightings throughout the region.
Mountain lions:
The DFW has a survey under way. The numbers some use — 4,000 to 6,000 — is based on an out-of-date guess made in the 1990s. In the Santa Cruz Mountains, an area where sightings were once rare, 40 lions have been collared with GPS trackers.
Bears:
The first attempt at a bear count took place in 1981, estimated at 10,000 to 15,000 in California. It’s now estimated at 25,000 to 30,000.
Waterfowl:
For this fall’s flights, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service projects the fifthhighest duck numbers in the past 60 years.
Whales:
Humpbacks and grays were on the brink of extinction. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration now estimates 80,000 humpbacks worldwide, 18,000 to 20,000 in the Pacific; 20,000 gray whales, what they call “optimum sustainable population.”