Mountain lions in the Valley (Scottsdale, Peoria: elementary school, live in, yard)

[stevek64]

Originally Posted by grmi66

Most snake bite victims tend to be in one demographic: young men between 18 & 30 who have been drinking alcohol. At least that is what an ER nurse down in Tucson claims in her experience with snake bites.

Wouldn't surprise me.

I recall reading a story last year where some guy was hiking on a desert path and was texting(and sounds like not paying attention to anything but his smartphone) and got bit by stepping on or too close to a snake.

[locolobo13]

In all my life I have never seen a mountain lion in the wild. The closest was seeing a shadow and bushes move when someone in our group said, "Hey look!" I've seen the remains of their kills in various forests. But they appear to be even more elusive than some of the other cats. I have seen bobcats at the Tres Rios Wetlands, the closed Hayfield site.

While I don't want to have a face to face encounter I would like to see one sometime. From a safe distance.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by stevek64

My neighbor told me people have seen them in front yards/the street near us also. We live close to a wash in Estrella so that might make it more likely to see them but we haven't seen one yet. Just be careful with Javelina's. They often mind their own business but they can get a bit feisty I've heard.

"Feisty"?? They can be downright mean! lol

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by Xica_da_Silva

A couple of points:

First, over the 10+ years I've lived in Phoenix, I've hiked quite a lot in either South Mountain Park, Phoenix Mountain Preserve, Dreamy Draw Park. Have seen lots of interesting, small critters, but no mountain lions. I think the largest risk is dehydration during the summer, or getting lost by going off-trail (as people tend to do in the Superstitious Mountains every so often). Having said that, my mom, who lives up in Cottonwood, actually saw a mountain lion skulking through a nearby wash while she was walking her small dog one early morning. However, the mountain lion must have already eaten, because according to her it did not seem much interested in her or the dog. When I've gone hiking in Sedona, I've heard it's not uncommon to see Mountain lions up there, but I've never heard of anyone getting attacked even in that area (I did see a small snake once while hiking- not even a rattler, though). In fact, the last time I heard of anyone getting attacked was several years ago down in Tuscon- I believe it was a lady who was jogging at dusk. The thing is, dawn and dusk, as with many animals, is the hunting time, so if you're really worried about it, then simply hike after the sun rises. (yeah, I know it's hot but it's going to be hot no matter what in the Summer- not much you can do if the low is 90F). Anyhow, not sure if Phoenix is a great food source for lions, in the sense that larger size prey such as deer aren't available, at least not within the city confines. Maybe in the Phoenix metro outskirts?

As for real critter dangers, I'd go with neighborhood dogs, and Africanized bees. Not too long ago, my neighborhood actually had a lady who was cultivating honey bees in her backyard, but apparently had an unplanned infestation of Africanized bees that caused the colony to go berserk- there were several people in our neighborhood who got attacked...I think a couple even ended up having to go the hospital due to bee allergies, etc. It was in the local news...I think the lady had to relocate the colony- we haven't had any issues since. I'd guess that your chances of encountering a mountain lion are very slim indeed, even if you hiked 365 days of the year- granted it's within the Phoenix city limits.

I've never seen a mountain lion anywhere around Cottonwood but I remember a couple of years ago when a bobcat blithely entered the Chapparal bar and set people to scrambling!! Up on the bar and pool tables! lol Then a few days later another one was spotted in one of the neighborhoods around Walmart, I think. Whew! About the only time I ever see any wildlife is if I'm out in the foothills.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by grmi66

Most snake bite victims tend to be in one demographic: young men between 18 & 30 who have been drinking alcohol. At least that is what an ER nurse down in Tucson claims in her experience with snake bites.

That is absolutely true. Its young, drunk men trying to prove their machismo by handling venomous snakes, that make up the bulk of the bite victims.

Speaking of snakes, ran into a red phase tiger rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris) last night at the Phoenix Mountains. Very cool to see it chilling out. I even got it to rattle at me.

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

I hike. A lot. I always have the feeling in the back of my mind that there are mountain lions in the area, and I always scan the area for them, trying to minimize my chances of startling one or stumbling upon a den. I know theyre solitary beasts, and dont really inhabit populated areas, but Ive read about all the attacks/maulings that occur in densely populated areas of California and British Columbia, so I dont think the Valley is immune from a possible attack. I also know AZ has a healthy population of mountain lions, too. My question is, have any of you seen or run into a mountain lion while hiking here in the Valley?

Never, but they are around in the mountains surrounding the valley. I also hike and adventure out in the wilderness a lot. I have seen prints out on some BLM land north of Carefree. They are as close as the surrounding mountains, but they usually don't like people and don't live around people unless there is a suitable habitat where they aren't disturbed. They chase, so trail runners or mountain bikers are more likely to be preyed on than hikers.

Other than mountain lions, I have seen all sorts of wildlife. I see snakes constantly, primarily rattlesnakes (mostly diamondbacks and tigers), but once in a while I'll see non venomous ones. Depending on the region of Arizona, I see lizards of all types, wild turkeys, wild horses, bear, elk, javelina, birds galore, and even livestock. Last year I was cruising down a forest road on my mountain bike and I came across a herd of sheep, complete with a border collie.

Even so, it seems that every time I turn around, I see something that I haven't seen before. I've lived here for a quarter of my life and this state still amazes me.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by 43north87west

I see snakes constantly, primarily rattlesnakes (mostly diamondbacks and tigers)

Just saw a tiger rattlesnake last night, in that nice red phase coloring. Gorgeous snakes!

[yukon]

I wouldn't worry about them, they're probably hanging out with the Who Dat folks and having a wild time.

[phetaroi]

[quote=stevek64;36243122]I have never seen them hiking either.


Mountain lions hike?

[stevek64]

Originally Posted by phetaroi

i have never seen them hiking either.


Mountain lions hike?

Ha!