The Fire District is hosting this Colestin Community Forum Page in order to promote community here in the Colestin valley & Mt. Ashland area, as well as to post announcements about local events and happenings that are not officially part of fire district business, but which are of general benefit to our whole community.

Anyone wishing to contribute to this page is welcome to email CRFD's webmaster with material. Please observe that all announcements must be to the purpose of the common good, and that we cannot accept private business advertising or partisan news.

For those wishing to obtain further community news beyond what is posted here, we suggest that you contact Lisa Buttrey, publisher of the community newsletter The Colestin Valley Buzz. (You can call Lisa directly, at: (541) 821-5479, or email her through our website and we will forward your inquiry.)

 

Topics listed below:

• A Passing: Marley Jacob Pratt
  
  
• Cougar Alert
1. Cougar Encounters
2. Cougar Behavior and Biology
3. Safety Tips for Living in Lion Country

Marley Jacob Pratt February 6, 1985 - June 29, 2003 Marley was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 15. For the past three years he beat the odds. He continued to live and he continued to give to his family, friends and community. Marley was a Junior Fire Fighter for CRFD. He always responded when called and, as Chief Avgeris said, he would do anything you asked him to. He was dedicated to this Fire District. On Friday, June 17th Chief Avgeris and members of CRFD fire fighting crew visited Marley to present him with the Fire Fighter of the Year Award and, since he had turned 18, he was given a badge signifying his promotion from Junior Fire Fighter to regular Fire Fighter. Sadly, Marley died two days later. He will be remembered for his incredible attitude. He was in pain and he suffered but he continued to serve as a role model to many because he kept doing while others might have just given up. All of the above photos are from Marley's web page. You can visit Marley's incredible web page at www.marleypratt.com The website has an Update Page (scroll down to "July 7, 2003") that includes further information for those wishing to offer memorial contributions in honor of Marley.

 

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Most recently, a cougar sighting was reported in early May by John Connors in the lower Colestin area off of the main road near Spaulding Creek Road (just north of the SS Bar Ranch Road) on the California side of the State line. The sighting occurred after dark in the evening, and involved a cat of undetermined gender appearing near a back porch. No animals/pets were disturbed. Cougar tracks were positively identified at this property on the following day.

Within the same time frame, David Stan also reported finding fresh cougar tracks at his property in the same vicinity, but without a sighting.

Previously, a cougar incident occurred in the early morning hours of the night just before 3 a.m., on Saturday, April 12th. A cougar attacked and killed another neighborhood dog, belonging to Jacek and Michelle Zagorski, who live to the southeast of the SS Bar Ranch buildings near Hilt.

Due to animal noises heard at the time, two dogs were originally thought to have been attacked, but the second dog returned home after the incident. Both dogs were outside in an area close to the house when this occurred. No sign of the dog that was attacked or a cougar were found just following the time of the attack.

Later on the same day, however, a large male cougar was sighted on the property in question, and was shot within the vicinity of livestock and the residence. Remains of the dog that was attacked were found within the cougar's digestive system.

Several more cougars are thought to still be at large in our area, including a female with cubs. The Colestin - Mt. Ashland area has two known cougar dens, one in the south-west end of the valley and one near the Siskiyou Summit near the Tunnel 13 area.

Young children in our district are at serious risk, even those just "right outside," and should be supervised when outdoors at all times. Please keep your pets inside at night as much as possible, and be aware that livestock are also at risk.

If you sight a cougar, report the incident immediately to the proper authorities:

Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: (541) 826-8774

California Dept. of Fish and Game: (530) 225-2300

Because these agencies may not have personnel immediately available for assistance, we also urge you to contact the fire district. We are available "24-7" for immediate assistance:

Call CRFD / Steve Avgeris for immediate assistance: (541) 488-1768

Legalities:

In Oregon, a property owner may track and shoot a mountain lion / cougar that is causing damage on your own property, without a permit. You must bring the carcass to the Department for these authorities to take data on the animal.

In California a permit is required to shoot a cougar, and the permit process is somewhat complicated, but begins with reporting incidences of suspected mountain lion damage.

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A related story concerning cougars appeared in the Thurs., October 30th, 2003, edition of the Mail Tribune, entitled, "Hunters kill cougars for protection."

"Oregonians shoot an average of two dozen cougars annually
during encounters deemed a public-safety hazard." - Mail Tribune file photo

The following information is reprinted in full with permission from The Colestin Valley Buzz (March / April, 2003, issue, published by Lisa Buttrey):

Number of Cougar Encounters Rises

November 20, 2002 - Night, Near the Buddhist Temple:"We dog-sit 2 dogs on a regular basis and one of them, leo - a very big dog, goes in and out of the house a lot. In the middle of the night I hear this horrible cry. I jump up, open the door and it's Leo just outside the door with a mountain lion that is bigger than he is. They both freeze at the sight of me. I call for Leo to come in, which he did immediately. Then my dog, Huckleberry came running out and fortunately the cat took off. Leo's head was all wet and his ear has a hole in it, but otherwise he's fine. None of the animals in my house wanted out during the night for quite a while after that." --Teri Thomas

February 3, 2003 - 3 AM, Fire Station One:"I awoke to the horrible sounds of an animal being attacked, but when we investigated that night we could find nothing. By daylight we found blood and fur, but no remains of our dog have ever been found. Professional hunters have investigated and found sparse evidence of mountain lion tracks in the area. The tracks suggested a mother and two cubs. Pets are easy prey, especially at this time of year when the deer aren't back up valley yet, and the cubs are being schooled on how to hunt." --Elizabeth Morgan

February 12, 2003 - 1 AM, Southeastern valley:"Our dog Maple went missing the early morning (1:00 am) of February 12. My other dog was barking constantly and frantically for over an hour. I did not hear anything before the dog was barking, but I was sound asleep. I searched but never found any trace of the missing dog. She was small, maybe about 20-25 pounds.

These two dogs were always together and never strayed far from the house so I suspect that the mountain lion was very close when Maple was taken. I don't have any positive proof that it WAS a mountain lion but my experience with coyotes is that they are very vocal and as I said I didn't hear anything but my dog barking.

I talked to Fish and Wildlife in Oregon (541-826-8774 - Rosemary) and reported my dog. In Oregon you can track and shoot a mountain lion on your property. In California (530-225-2300 - Tina) there is a whole process that you need to go through in order to get permission to shoot the animal. The first step is that the incidents are reported and then if there is a pattern it is referred to a warden... I'm being referred to Warden Brian Boyd." --Sandra Archibald

Early March, 2003 - Night, Southwestern Valley:"We ourselves haven't had any actual actual attacks here. What has occurred, though, is that a gravesite of a goat that died this past December was dug back up, and the carcass was eaten into. (I was not able to bury the body sufficiently in December, due to mud; for the time being, it was only covered by about 8-10 inches of soil with a sheet of old plywood over that.) I found this out about 4 days ago when I noticed that the ground at that site had been disturbed. The stomache area (main body flesh and innards) was eaten out of the skeletal frame of the body; the extremities and head were left alone. This is, in Christy Lehman's experience, the exact type of behavior exhibited by cougars on carcasses.

Coincident with this time-frame, we heard lots of serious barking on the part of our two housedogs and three livestock guardian dogs on or about the night before I found the carcass dug up. It has not been disturbed since, and our dogs have not been overly agitated as they were on the one night in question. However, they do all seem to periodically react to the presence of something unusual, although I am often here, and have not seen anything. We are not attempting to cover the carcass back up, other than replacing the plywood, with the idea that it may lure the cougar back for more, when we would be able to report it and have it dealt with. This is a very scary situation, for both pets and livestock, and especially for children in our area who could be in danger." --Betsy Bradshaw

February 20, 2003 - Night and Day, Southwestern valley:"On Thursday Feb. 20th our dog Shasta mysteriously disappeared during the night. We called our neighbors and posted a notice on the bulletin board. No one ever saw her. We did not find a carcass of any kind. However, we did hike around looking for any signs of her. We found only mountain lion tracks and scat.

A week later our other dog Ashley disappeared while eating breakfast in front of the shop. We also searched for her and called the neighbors. This time I saw the mountain lion through the bushes twice at the same location. I called California Fish and Game and was informed that I had a right to protect my property but that I could not hunt it and that they would only intervene when livestock was damaged.

About nine days later on March 8th I was talking with my sister-in-law and I looked out the kitchen window and saw a mountain lion stalking my horse. The horse was lying down on the ground trying to soak up some sun. It had no idea it was about to be pounced on. I bounded out the door as fast as I could, the door slamming behind me! My sister-in-law was concerned about my unusual behavior and looking out the window saw what had upset me so much. The mountain lion heard the noise and abandoned its prey as I came screaming towards it. I have since taken my horse to Yreka. I didn't want to wait until the horse was killed before I took action again.

Martha and I feel we have been violated. We have lived here for twenty years and never worried at all when the grandchildren were playing outside on the swings. However, it has changed our comfort level and is challenging our concept of how we are to live in harmony with nature." --David Stan

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Cougar Behavior and Biology

(most of this info comes from www.atasteofeldorado.com)

Mountain lions (Felis Concolor) are the largest native North American cat except for the slightly larger jaguar. They are primarily nocturnal, shy, elusive, and solitary (except during the breeding season and when young are traveling with the female). They are very fast over a short distance, but due to relatively small lung capacity, cannot run great distances. They are agile tree climbers.

Males are generally larger than females averaging 130 to 150 pounds and 72-90 inches in length. Females average 65-90 pounds. Pads on the forefeet are larger than those on the hind feet. Heel pads on both the fore and hind feet have a distinctive three-lobed appearance. Claw marks seldom show in cougar tracks.

Mountain lions are mainly nocturnal, preferring to hunt at night. Deer are their favorite prey.

They have also been known to prey on beaver, porcupines, rabbits, skunks, domestic livestock, pets, and other small mammal, birds, and even fish.

Larger animals are usually killed by a bite to the back of the neck.

Lions usually remove the viscera and eat the heart, liver and lungs first. Uneaten portions of prey are often cached (covered with vegetation, dirt, snow, or other debris). These food sources are generally fed upon until consumed or they spoil. Lions generally move the carcass and re-cover it after each feeding. Dens can be found in any concealed, sheltered spot.

Male lions roam widely, females less widely, especially when the cubs are small. Adult male home ranges often encompass more than 100 square miles. Adult males use their hind feet to scrape duff into a small pile to declare their territory. These scrapes or 'scratches' are often 6-12 feet wide.

Females generally occupy ranges from 20-60 square miles. Females breed first at two or three years old, then every 18-20 months thereafter. Young may be born at any time of the year; the gestation period is 88-97 days. Litters range from one to six, generally two or three. Juvenile markings (spots) disappear by fifteen months.

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Safety Tips for Living in Lion Country

Because people and mountain lions increasingly occupy the same geographical areas, encounters are expected to increase.

Here's what you can do to reduce your chances of encountering a mountain lion near your home:

• DON'T FEED WILDLIFE: By feeding deer, raccoons, or other wildlife in your yard, you will inadvertently attract mountain lions, which prey upon them.
  
  
• 'DEER-PROOF' YOUR LANDSCAPE: Avoid using plants that deer prefer to eat; if your landscaping attracts deer, mountain lions may be close by. Fence your yard with see-through fencing material to keep deer out and pets from roaming.
  
  
• LANDSCAPE FOR SAFETY: Remove dense and/or low-lying vegetation that would provide good hiding places for mountain lions, especially around children's play areas; make it difficult for mountain lions to approach your yard unseen.
  
  
• INSTALL OUTDOOR LIGHTING: Keep the perimeter of your house well lit at night - especially along walkways - to keep lions visible.
  
  
• COVER YOUR GARBAGE: Store garbage in cans with tight-fitting lids so odors do not attract small mammals.
  
  
• KEEP PETS SECURE: Roaming pets are easy prey for hungry lions. Especially at night, either bring pets inside or keep them in a kennel with a secure top. Fence your yard with see-through fencing material. Don't feed pets outside; this can attract other mountain lion prey.
  
  
• KEEP LIVESTOCK SECURE: Where practical, place livestock in enclosed sheds and barns at night (especially during calving or lambing seasons) and be sure to secure all outbuildings. Consider getting a trained livestock guard dog.
  
  
• KEEP CHILDREN SAFE: Keep a close watch on children whenever they play outdoors. Make sure children are inside between dusk and dawn. Teach your children what to do if they encounter a lion.

 

What should you do or not do, when approached by a mountain lion?

Here are some suggestions based on studies and analysis of attacks by mountain lions, tigers, and leopards:

• DO NOT HIKE ALONE: Go in groups, with adults supervising children.
  
  
• KEEP CHILDREN CLOSE TO YOU: Observations of captured wild mountain lions reveal that the animals seem especially drawn to children. Keep children within your sight at all times.
  
  
• DON'T JOG IN THE FOREST: Running may trigger an attack.
  
  
• DO NOT APPROACH A LION: Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
  
  
• DO NOT RUN FROM A LION: Running may stimulate a mountain lion's instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up if possible so they don't panic and run. Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.
  
  
• DO NOT CROUCH OR BEND OVER: In Nepal, a researcher studying tigers and leopards watched the big cats kill cattle and domestic water buffalo while ignoring humans standing nearby. He surmised that a human standing up is just not the right shape for a cat's prey. On the other hand, a person squatting or bending over looks a lot like a four-legged prey animal. If you're in mountain lion country, avoid squatting, crouching or bending over, even when picking up children.
  
  
• DO ALL YOU CAN DO TO APPEAR LARGER: Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Again, pick up small children. If the animal does not flee and shows signs of aggression (crouching with ears back, teeth bared, hissing, tail twitching and hind feet pumping in preparation to jump) be more assertive. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. The idea is to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may be a danger to it.
  
  
• FIGHT BACK IF ATTACKED: A hiker in Southern California used a rock to fend off a mountain lion that was attacking his son. Others have fought back successfully with sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools and their bare hands. Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the attacking animal.
  
  
• REPORT ANY INCIDENT TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (541) 826-8774 or California Department of Fish and Game (530) 225-2300. In Oregon, a property owner may shoot a mountain lion that is causing damage [on their own property], without a permit. You must bring the carcass to the Department for them to take data on the animal. In California the process is more complicated, but it begins with reporting incidences of suspected mountain lion damage.

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A Memorial - Glen Archibald Glen Archibald died tragically during the spring of 2003. He was a Colestin resident for 21 years. Many of us knew him and were shocked and saddened by his sudden passing. On Sunday, April 18th, 2003, a community Memorial Gathering was held at the home of Indigo Ray, to share in a remembrance of Glen. Our sympathies remain with his wife, Sandra, and their children, Kira and Ian.

 

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