Caspers Park Hikers Report Mountain Lion Incidents

Within days of reopening an Orange County wilderness park to children, hikers reported being charged at by an aggressive female mountain lion that came within three feet of youngsters in the group.

That incident last Sunday has convinced Orange County Supervisor Charles V. Smith the county needs to consider reversing its decision to fully open up Caspers Wilderness Park to minors.

“It’s really obvious that we have a big problem and we’re premature in opening it up to children,” Smith said Thursday. “It’s obvious the mountain lion population in this wilderness park is not compatible with use by children.”

The 7,500-acre park east of San Juan Capistrano was closed to minors in 1992 after a 5-year-old girl was severely mauled in 1986 by a mountain lion. The family of Laura Michelle Small won a $1.5-million judgment against the county for that attack.

In 1995, minors were allowed back into the park with some restrictions. Children under 18 were only allowed in the campgrounds and day-use areas. They weren’t permitted on the trails without adult supervision.

Smith, along with Supervisor Todd Spitzer, strongly objected to the 3-2 vote Dec. 16 that gave children unlimited use of the park for the first time in six years.

The park incident Sunday involved two women and four children near the day-use area along the main trail, said senior park ranger John Gannaway.

The mountain lion, also known as a cougar, apparently came out of the brush toward the group, and began circling them--a classic stalking position.

Then, hissing and baring its teeth, it charged at the group and came within 3 feet of the children--ages 5, 6, 7 and 8--before it was chased off.

Later that day, the lion moved even closer to the day-use area, exhibiting unusually calm behavior even after being observed by another group of hikers. At that point, officials with the state’s Department of Fish and Game made the decision to kill the animal that same day, Gannaway said.

“They determined that it was a threat to public safety. Because it was such an aggressive encounter--a charge within 3 feet of a child--they decided the best course of action was to eliminate the cat,” he said.

The mountain lion’s body was taken to a lab to determine if it was suffering from a disease that influenced its behavior. But a preliminary exam showed that she was physically healthy, well-nourished and not producing any milk. Females are known to be more aggressive when protecting young cubs, he said.

Gannaway, a veteran ranger, calls the confrontation an “unusual and isolated” one, since mountain lions typically avoid contact with humans. The incident last Sunday is the first aggressive case in 11 years, he said.

But Smith remains unconvinced that a similar encounter won’t happen again, and said he plans to bring up the issue at the board’s Jan. 13 meeting.

Smith questioned why he was not informed of the attack by park officials.

“I don’t know what action was taken. That’s why I think it needs to be revisited,” he said.