Orange County's Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park reopened Tuesday, not long after a 100-pound mountain lion was captured by experts with the state Department of Fish and Game. The big cat had been sighted in the same area multiple times since July 7 and was even videotaped interacting with a coyote (very rare footage).
Though the park has reopened, according to the Orange County Register, the Serrano Cow Trail will remain temporarily closed in case the 2-year-old cougar had been traveling with its mother.
The park was initially closed on July 10, then reopened last Friday. On Sunday Robert Meyer captured the accompanying video footage. The park was subsequently closed until the lion was captured early Tuesday.
Meyer told the Register: "It's kind of unusual to see a coyote in the first place. It's rare to see a mountain. It's extraordinary to see the two of them interacting like this. It's just amazing."
The DFG will determine whether to relocate or euthanize the cat.
Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park was the scene of a fatal mountain lion attack in 2004.
I was on the trail the morning that the video was shot. Check out the story at www.CaliHike.blogspot.com
I'm Hiking 1000 Trails in 1000 Days!
Posted by: Jeremy Jacobus | Jul 18, 2012 at 11:03 AM