Sifter
California Assemblyman Bill Maze, R-Visalia, has introduced legislation that would allow the hunting of mountain lions in the state. Maze’s legislation reads: “The bill would permit a license tag holder to use no more than three dogs to hunt mountain lions during the open season, and would specify that the open season for the hunting of mountain lions is all year.” Proponents argue that the population of the big cats has increased to the point that they pose a threat to people. Others argue the the human population has grown in the state to the point where it is threatening the well-being of the cats. The following chart from the state Department of Fish & Game lists the 15 verified attacks on humans in the state since 1890.
Date Outcome Location County
June 1890 Fatal Quartz Valley Siskiyou
July 1909 Fatal* Morgan Hill Santa Clara
July 1909 Fatal* Morgan Hill Santa Clara
March 1986 Non-fatal Caspers Wilderness Park Orange
Oct. 1986 Non-fatal Caspers Wilderness Park Orange
March 1992 Non-fatal Gaviota State Park Santa Barbara
Sept. 1993 Non-fatal Cuyamaca State Park San Diego
April 1994 Fatal Auburn State Rec. Area El Dorado
Aug. 1994 Non-fatal Mendocino County Mendocino
Aug. 1994 Non-fatal Mendocino County Mendocino
Dec. 1994 Fatal Cuyamaca State Park San Diego
March 1995 Non-fatal Mt. Lowe Los Angeles
Jan. 2004 Fatal Whiting Ranch Reg.Park Orange
Jan. 2004 Non-fatal Whiting Ranch Reg.Park Orange
June 2004 Non-fatal Sequoia National Forest Tulare
*Deaths in 1909 due to rabies
One other reported incident involved a camouflaged hunter making turkey when confronted by a mountian lion. DFG says this does not count as an attack on a human because the lion thought it was going after a turkey.
