photo credit: Courtesy US Forest Service
   

A recent statewide census of mountain lions finds their numbers less abundant than previously thought. That also appears to be the case locally.

Locally, the Audubon Canyon Ranch helped compile data for a soon-to-be-published paper.

As to why there may be fewer here in Sonoma County,

"the conditions for mountain lions to thrive are not there," said Wendy Coy, Director of Communications at Audubon Canyon Ranch. She said the primary killer of the apex predator locally is the motor vehicle. Generally nocturnal, mountain lions tend to avoid people. She said they perform a function similar to wolves, which are known for re-balancing habitats.

"They prey on deer. They leave those carcasses for other, lower predators, soils are enriched and it really does effect the overall quality of the landscape and water quality and the biodiversity in general," Coy said.

Coy estimates there are about 75 currently in the county. They can roam long distances. One young male, tagged with a GPS collar last year at Taylor Mountain..."Ended up in Bodega Bay sitting at a parking lot and we have a GPS point of him right on the bay, and then made his way south, went to point reyes, checked out a lot of west marin, ended up in Tiburon, of all places. He crossed the 101 several times," Coy said.

The lion however ended up getting killed after attacking livestock in West County.

The Audubon Canyon Ranch recently published a guide to co-existing in mountain lion country, which provides tips for safeguarding livestock and pets, especially important for those with domestic cats.

Coy said house cats account for about 4 percent of a local mountain lion's diet.

She said, where livestock are concerned, a mountain lion's instincts can be used against it.

"Mountain lions do not like to jump into areas that they cannot see," Coy said.

Even though they can easily clear a 15 foot fence, blocking the view of what's behind a fence, can make a real difference.

The guides are available on line and in print in a number of places."you can drop by Swede's Feeds, they are also available on line at egret.org or you can click here.