Mountain Lion Danger

[Voni]

Posted on FB:

- she's a BB Volunteer
CrazyAngie Dean
Crazy day here in BBNP--we had 2 mountain lion incidents in the Park yesterday involving a young, small, hungry lion. Some folks on the Window trail had a lion try to go after an 8 yr. old with her family hiking the Trail. They tried yelling, tossing rocks to no avail. The mom pushed her backpack at the lion, who grabbed the backpack and then took off. Then last night near the restaurant, probably the same lion attacked a 9 yr. old boy, who had bites and scratches and was taken up to the Hospital in Alpine. This morning, a large force of rangers and lion trackers with dogs are up in the Basin, trying to find the lion. So the Window Trail, Window View Trail, Pinnacles Trail, and the trails to and from the Basin Campground and the Basin are all CLOSED!! I have real feelings for the kiddo that was attacked and real sorrowful feelings for this mountain lion who will probably be dispatched to the mountain lion heaven. Poor kiddo, poor lion. It's a wild park, people!

And from the Daily Report:
http://www.nps.gov/bibe/upload/DAILYREPORT-143.pdf

Current Park Conditions:
Due to Mtn Lion activity, the Window Trail, Window View Trail, the trail that connects the Chisos Basin CG
to the Basin Store, and Pinnacles trails are closed. Please follow Mtn Lion safety precautions.

Voni
 

[lsnead]

Oh man, that's terrible..  Hope those boys are okay!
I've never heard of a mountain lion attack in BiBe.. is this the first incident?

[steelfrog]

There have been stalkings reported before.

I saw my first lion there about 8 days ago.  Coming out of that same area.

[mule ears]

Wow that is bad but I am sure that the drought has made it hard on the lions too.  I am sure the lion will unfortunately be killed.  I am glad the boy wasn't hurt too badly.

There have been only a couple of other attacks in the past and it has been some years.

[chisos muse]

If memory serves, the last attack was in the early 80's, and it was not fatal. Sad stuff..

[RichardM]

This hasn't shown up on the Park News or News Releases pages yet, but attached is an advance copy of the report.

For those who can't open .docx files, here's the content.

February 6, 2012
Big Bend National Park Media Alert

MOUNTAIN LION ATTACK IN BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK

A mountain lion attack occurred on February 5th in the Chisos basin of Big Bend National Park. A six year old boy received non-life threatening injuries during the attack.

Once the report was received, park rangers closed the high Chisos Mountain trails into the area at approximately 8:00 a.m. February 6th and began patrols for the animal. Additional park personnel began patrols to notify trail users of the closure and to evacuate the area. A trained, professional dog team has been summoned to the park to help track the lion; however, at this time the lion has not been located.

Trail and campsite closures include The Window Trail which is closed until further notice and the Pinnacles, Boulder Meadow and Juniper Flat campsites of the Chisos Mountains are closed until further notice. Children are not advised to hike in the Chisos Mountains at this time and visitors should check on trail closures which may change

The trails and campsites listed will remain closed until further notice. For updates or additional information please call the park at 432-477-1107.

[RichardM]

If memory serves, the last attack was in the early 80's, and it was not fatal. Sad stuff..

There was the Pine Canyon incident in 1998.

Richard, I think Jim is correct.  It really sticks in my mind that it occurred on the PC trail.

Yup, Jim's memory is apparently better than mine!  This news article gives lots of details on the 5/25/1998 attack but doesn't name the trail.  This report states it was on the Pine Canyon Trail, as does this report.

I think there was also one in 2003, but I can't seem to find details on it today (doesn't mean they're not out there...)

if memory serves, that last lion attack was in 2003 just days before my trip in the end of June.

I believe that was the older mountain lion that was no longer able to catch prey.  I believe it was captured and destroyed.

[steelfrog]

We need to reintroduce tigers to BB--liven things up!  A tiger wouldn't be deterred by a pocket knife.  Good Lord!

[Jimbow]

IIRC from the ranger presentation, the lion back then had a brain tumor. He was relocated once and when he reappeared he was dispatched to mountain lion heaven, which probably looks a lot like BiBe.

[chisos muse]

Thank you for reiterating that my memory is no longer existant! I bow to you, sir....

[kevint]

I have to wonder if this is the same lion that my daughter and I encountered in the parking lot.

[Voni]

That was the first thing I thought!  Glad your daughter saw the "kitty" first!

More details here:

http://alpinedailyplanet.typepad.com/alpine-daily-planet/2012/02/six-year-old-leander-boy-suffers-facial-cuts-in-mountain-lion-attack-at-big-bend-national-park.html

Voni
  sMiling

[SA Bill]

Wow! 
   Bill

[Homer67]

The park warns of the dangers of mtn lions and children. 

The mtn lion is just being a mtn lion; his "morality" is automatic and for him to act in this manner speaks to the hardships this creature must be facing.  We are the invaders of his territory...so sad that this is turned on its head and the lion has to be relocated or put down.  Within the notions of don Juan Matus, we live and die just as the mtn lion does and we are no better.   

I know that may sound crass, but it is us who are going into the lion's homeland.

Everyone involved will  recover and be fine; they will also have quite a story to tell for the rest of their lives.  Do they not realize the gift they have been handed?

[Jimbow]

The reports talk about the lion being in poor shape. Interesting most people worry about a mountain lion while in a remote spot or on a trail. Who would have picked on the sidewalk at the hotel? I wonder what ails this animal.