It was a sad day Monday when I learned that a mature (likely female) mountain lion was discovered dor in thermal California just north of the Salton sea.
http://www.kesq.com/news/large-mountain ... /607179703
Desert lions
Moderator: Scott Waters
- SurfinHerp
- Posts: 653
- Joined: October 18th, 2010, 8:55 pm
- Location: San Diego, CA
- Contact:
Re: Desert lions
It's a little surprising that a mountain lion would be in the low desert in the middle of August. I understand that many of them move from the desert up into the mountains for the summer.
Did you hear about the mountain lion in Borrego Springs earlier this year (in May I think)? It was menacing hikers going to Hellhole Palms, so the trail had to be closed for a while. That's the same area where Jamez Evanz encountered a mountain lion while night hiking a few years ago.
Jeff
Did you hear about the mountain lion in Borrego Springs earlier this year (in May I think)? It was menacing hikers going to Hellhole Palms, so the trail had to be closed for a while. That's the same area where Jamez Evanz encountered a mountain lion while night hiking a few years ago.
Jeff
Re: Desert lions
Hey Nate
lol I so rarely get on the forum that I missed your reply, but to answer your question I did hear about the borrego cat. Though lions are not common in the low desert per se, they do venture out to other areas and cross fairly urban terrain to exploit resources in different parts of their range. The cat in thermal was likely using the storm water channel to move about as it serves as a great movement corridor through the Coachella valley. I've documented 3 lion kills at a place called dos palmas near the Coachella canal which runs along the east side of the Salton sea.
Cheers
lol I so rarely get on the forum that I missed your reply, but to answer your question I did hear about the borrego cat. Though lions are not common in the low desert per se, they do venture out to other areas and cross fairly urban terrain to exploit resources in different parts of their range. The cat in thermal was likely using the storm water channel to move about as it serves as a great movement corridor through the Coachella valley. I've documented 3 lion kills at a place called dos palmas near the Coachella canal which runs along the east side of the Salton sea.
Cheers
Re: Desert lions
I saw one at the enterance to Whitewater years ago. I pulled in and a group were spotlighting it going up the hill. Pretty cool to see. When I say years ago it was about twenty or more.