Second cougar sighted in Ben Lomond
Last week’s captured cougar has died
BEN LOMOND >> Another sickly mountain lion was sighted at around 9 p.m. Monday in Ben Lomond on security footage video near Newell Creek.
Rebecca Dmytryk, the director of Wildlife Emergency Services, said she believes the big cat is the same cat that was photographed Dec. 17 at Fern and Buena Vista avenues.
“It could very well be that same animal we are seeing in that video,” Dmytryk said. “To me, it looks like there is potentially something going on with its left leg.”
It is reasonable to suspect that from Dec. 17 and Monday, the cat could have traveled between the locations of the two sightings, Dmytryk said.
The newest sighting comes less than a week after the California Department of Fish and Wildlife rescued another ill mountain lion in Santa Cruz. The cougar got trapped in the back of the Cypress Point apartments just north of Near y Lagoon on New Year’s Eve.
The cougar captured in Santa Cruz was taken to rehabilitation, but the responding game wardens were not optimistic about the animal’s chances of survival last Thursday. It died a few days later during recovery, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The sighting of multiple sickly big cats in the area has wildlife conservationists concerned about the cause of illness among local wildlife.
Dmytryk said she believes it could be a number of issues.
Possible exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides can make predators sick, but the big cat’s poor health could also be a side effect of the CZU August Lighting Complex fire. Dmytryk also alluded to the possibility of fire retardants polluting local watershed or even a lack of food as a result of the widespread habitat destruction from the fires.
“By nature, you should not be seeing a number of disabled apex predators,” Dmytryk said. “It’s just not nature. They should be thriving. We’re seeing two apex predators days of each other malnourished and desperate just miles apart.”
However, the cause of illness among the two mountain lions will not be known until California Fish and Wildlife officials can capture the big cat. From there, the animal will need to be tested by the wildlife investigations lab, whom Dmytryk lauded.
“For the cat’s welfare and for the public’s safety, we need to get this cat,” she said. “This cat needs to be captured because it’s not doing well. In doing so, perhaps we can find the piece of the puzzle, find an answer.”
Any future sightings should be reported to the Wildlife Emergency services over the phone at 866945-3911 or via email at rebecca@wildlifeservices.org. Dmytryk has been making a detailed map of local mountain lion sightings to benefit authorities when they track these animals.
“It really helps to see the visual. I’m collecting the sightings, mapping it out and sharing it with the authorities,” she said. “If someone feels their life is in danger, they should call 911.”