Welcome to Cougarmundo

With all of the sightings lately of cougars from all over the US reported here at Cryptomundo, we are thinking about changing our name to Cougarmundo.

Well, not really, but there have been a lot of cougar or mountain lion sightings in unexpected places lately. Readers may wonder about all of the postings here on Cryptomundo about these reports of big cats in unexpected places.

As the following article says, for a lot of people, "the mountain lion is in the same category as Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster."

Is there a mountain lion on the prowl at a popular Gilbert park? There have been seven reported sightings of a big cat at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch on the corner of Greenfield and Guadalupe roads.

The Riparian Preserve gives people a chance to experience nature right here in the Valley.

There are all kinds of birds, lizards, butterflies, but is there really a mountain lion or is it the Valley’s version of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster?

Bears and bobcats have all come to town a time or two, but Sheryl Mendenhall and baby Mathew join a lot of others at Gilbert’s Riparian Preserve Water Park for a day outdoors.

Along with the birds and flowers and those trying to catch a big one, there have been seven reports saying a mountain lion is hanging around as well.

While there are some nice places to hide, the Arizona Game and Fish Department came looking for a mountain lion.

Those who love to bird watch and stretch their legs agree, the mountain lion is in the same category as Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster.

It could be another East Valley urban myth, to join the ranks of an elusive Mesa alligator. But seven reports of a mountain lion at Gilbert’s Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch has experts on watch.

“If it’s as shy as it seems to be, it doesn’t seem to be much danger at all,” said Scott Anderson, director of the Riparian Institute at Greenfield and Guadalupe roads.

Seven visitors, including an Arizona State University professor and bird watchers, have separately called in sightings of what appeared to be a juvenile mountain lion near pond No. 6 along Greenfield Road.

They all reported it walked away from them when spotted, park ranger Scott Cleaves said.

The ranger said that in the six months since the institute began getting calls about a big orange cat, he has never seen it himself, but he takes the calls seriously based on the specifics given by witnesses.

“Somebody was able to describe the black tips at the end of their tails,” Cleaves said. “Others described it as being as big as a Labrador retriever.”

However, the Arizona Game and Fish Department recently surveyed the park for several hours and came up empty, Cleaves said. No scratchings, paw prints or other evidence has been spotted by officials.

Cleaves added that because the park is filled with rabbits, birds and feral cats, a mountain lion could survive without harming neighborhood pets, and easily live unnoticed since it would come out at night when the park is closed.

Anderson said it’s possible that if a lion is present, it came by way of canals or a trail system from the San Tan Mountains in Pinal County.

The sightings come six months after residents at Mesa’s La Valencia apartments said they spotted an alligator living in a lake there. Experts drained the lake, and never found the alligator.

Park visitors on Monday were skeptical that a mountain lion could have traveled deep into the urban East Valley.

“No way, I can’t see a mountain lion out here,” said Nicole Fookes, whose family was visiting from their home on the base of the San Tans.

Renee Carr, whose children attend Christ’s Greenfield Lutheran School next to the park, said the sightings “make me very concerned,” because the playgrounds are separated by just a fence.

But, she added, “I can’t imagine a mountain lion making it this far into the city.”

• Do not hike, jog or ride your bicycle alone in mountain lion country: Go in groups, with adults supervising children.

• Keep children close to you: Observations of captured wild mountain lions reveal that the animals seem especially drawn to children. Keep children in your sight at all times.

• Do not approach a mountain lion: Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.

• Do not run from a mountain lion: Running may stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If there are small children there, pick them up if possible so they don’t panic and run. Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.

• Do not crouch or bend over: A person squatting or bending over looks much like a fourlegged prey animal.

• Appear larger: Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Again, pick up small children.

• Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. The idea is to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may be a danger to it.

• Fight back if attacked: Many potential victims have fought back successfully with rocks, sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools and their bare hands. Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the attacking animal.

About Craig Woolheater
Co-founder of Cryptomundo in 2005. I have appeared in or contributed to the following TV programs, documentaries and films: OLN's Mysterious Encounters: "Caddo Critter", Southern Fried Bigfoot, Travel Channel's Weird Travels: "Bigfoot", History Channel's MonsterQuest: "Swamp Stalker", The Wild Man of the Navidad, Destination America's Monsters and Mysteries in America: Texas Terror - Lake Worth Monster, Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot: Return to Boggy Creek and Beast of the Bayou.

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