Big Cat at Incline.
Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:03 pm
INCLINE VILLAGE -- Wildlife officials expressed surprise over recent mountain lion sightings in Incline Village, saying the animals are seldom seen in towns.
At least three residents of the upscale north Lake Tahoe community have reported seeing the animals since November.
Jan Dyer, who lives above the Championship Golf Course, said she was able to watch a mountain lion in her yard for about three minutes from a second-story window.
"I realized -- that is not a coyote," Dyer said. "It left paw prints all over my yard. When it trotted off, it headed into the village."
Her neighbor, Barbara Frederic, said the animal has visited her yard three times since Dec. 1.
"We've seen tracks twice and our neighbor said they saw it in our yard" on Jan. 5, Frederic said.
While the Tahoe Basin is considered mountain lion range, U.S. Forest Service officials said, they do not receive many reports of sightings.
"It is not common that you would see one inside of town," said Ted Sayer, wildlife biologist for the agency. "They would probably be moving out of the basin in the winter because that is where the deer population moves."
Chris Healy, spokesman for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, said he has worked in the region for 20 years without spotting a mountain lion in the wild.
While Nevada's mountain ranges are home to many mountain lions, he said, they should not be at snow-covered Lake Tahoe in the winter.
"It is kind of surprising. This is not ideal mountain lion habitat right now," Healy said.
"If it was a mountain lion it was probably a young male. ... A female or a grizzled old tom would know where to go this time of year. Young, stupid males are always getting themselves in trouble," Healy added.
That last sentence just slays me! I'm just glad I made it to be an old grizzled Tom. JM
At least three residents of the upscale north Lake Tahoe community have reported seeing the animals since November.
Jan Dyer, who lives above the Championship Golf Course, said she was able to watch a mountain lion in her yard for about three minutes from a second-story window.
"I realized -- that is not a coyote," Dyer said. "It left paw prints all over my yard. When it trotted off, it headed into the village."
Her neighbor, Barbara Frederic, said the animal has visited her yard three times since Dec. 1.
"We've seen tracks twice and our neighbor said they saw it in our yard" on Jan. 5, Frederic said.
While the Tahoe Basin is considered mountain lion range, U.S. Forest Service officials said, they do not receive many reports of sightings.
"It is not common that you would see one inside of town," said Ted Sayer, wildlife biologist for the agency. "They would probably be moving out of the basin in the winter because that is where the deer population moves."
Chris Healy, spokesman for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, said he has worked in the region for 20 years without spotting a mountain lion in the wild.
While Nevada's mountain ranges are home to many mountain lions, he said, they should not be at snow-covered Lake Tahoe in the winter.
"It is kind of surprising. This is not ideal mountain lion habitat right now," Healy said.
"If it was a mountain lion it was probably a young male. ... A female or a grizzled old tom would know where to go this time of year. Young, stupid males are always getting themselves in trouble," Healy added.
That last sentence just slays me! I'm just glad I made it to be an old grizzled Tom. JM