Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Felines in Inyo/John Muir Wilderness

Hi,

I am wondering if anyone has ever seen any wild felines during their hikes around the Whitney or Bishop area. I'm not quite sure how appropriate this post may be, so if it's not cool, let me know.

I spent this past weekend with friends in the Rock Creek Lake area. My friend and I were doing some rock scrambling above Gem Lakes, after going to Morgan Pass (somewhere south of Rock Creek Lake). We were going to go cross country, down the hill, to meet the Morgan Pass Trail. As I was staring down the hill toward the trail, I spotted a small baby feline cross my path about 20 feet away. Since the little guy was in the shade, I really couldn't pinpoint the exact color and/or pattern of its fur. For certain, I saw black hairs on the tips of its ears.

I've been scouring the Inyo Nat'l Forest website on a list of wildlife, but only come up with bear-related text. I'm not quite sure what kind of feline I saw, because I wasn't able to see it's entire body (rear half was behind some shrubs). What kind of felines are typically spotted in the area? Are feline sightings something the forest service wants to have reported?

Thanks,

Kristen

I think the only cats in the area are bobcats and mountain lions.
The coat of the bobcat is very spotted, while I think the cougar is more uniformly tan. Not sure about ears.


Bobcat cub:


Mountain Lion Cub:

There was a mountain lion sighted in Mammoth Lakes in July. This link will take you to the article in the Mammoth Lakes Daily News paper.

http://mammothlakesvillage.com/blog/?p=655

The mountain Lions are the major predator of the Big Horn Sheep populations left in the Sierra.

There are probably other cats indigenous to the area, I just don't know which.

Bobbie

Ken: Thanks for the reply and photos. I've actually looked at photos of the both cats. Still not quite sure which cat it was. I didn't want to hang around too long to figure it out.

SierraAddict: I've come across articles on google about the predator-prey relationship of mountain lions and bighorn sheep in the area. I think I'm just going to call the ranger station in the morning (I am back in LA area) and state what I saw. After reading that article, though, I just hope people don't freak out and some action is taken toward the feline I saw up there. I believe I got my a little surprise because I went a ways off trail. Not something most people usually do. Atleast that's what I assume.

Thanks,

Kristen

I would hope that no action would be taken just because a feline was "sighted" in the wilderness. I completely understand your concern and reluctance to report anything - living in Orange county where any wildlife sighting results in said wildlife being hunted down and SHOT. Personally, I would not report it either, unless it was something very out of the ordinary.

Kristen, why do you feel a need to report it? You weren't attacked or even threatened. You were in the wilderness and you saw a wild animal that, whether you identified it or not, was in its own habitat. If there's any more to the story than that I haven't seen it.

Ditto what Blooty and burtw posted above. Can't tell whether you want to report it for informational/biodiversity purposes, or "I saw a blood-thirsty animal that has to be hunted down and killed" purpose. Personally, I wouldn't report it. I'd think the NFS/NPS or a research group (college of otherwise)already does bio-surveys and the 'feline' population of the area you were in is already known.

Rememeber you were in the John Muir Wildeness. It's left as a wilderness (or as close as possible) for those who want to experience an area with no (or very minimal) human modification to the environment.

Kristen, I respectfully disagree with the above posters. Mountain Lions are very controversial in the ecology of the Sierra, and part of the problem is that little is known about them, or they are surrounded by misconception.

I am astonished that you saw this cub. The fact that you did would tend to indicate, to me, that there is a very significant lion population in that area.

I would report the cat sighting, and let the agency people know. Whether this is of concern or not, I'd let the professionals at least know about it. The Bighorn Sheep are being wiped out by these cats (but don't worry about action against the cat....they are protected, by law), and it's nice to have them out there, too.

Here is a link to a most interesting paper on lions on the western side:

http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/Popular/mtnlions.html

Imagine that, a person goes into the wilderness and see a wild animal. Is it news to anyone involved that the area has wild animals ?
Personally I think you might have seen a domestic cat that was left up there.
When I lived in Montana we always used to laugh (and get angry) at the Californians and New Yorkers who moved into wilderness areas and reported bears or cougars to authorities. YES, they live there and YES you will see them living there sometimes. Feel honored that you saw a magnificant wild animal while they still last and DONT report it.

Hey Kristen,
It definately sounds like you encountered a Bobcat. They love the rocks for shelter and if you saw the "black-tips" on the ears thats a good indicator. Mountain lions by nature are extremely reclusive and nocturnal, it's very rare to see one in the wild, however that does not mean that they are not there...they will see you and avoid you long before you ever see them. A Fish & Game biologist told me that on an average, for every one Mountain Lion you actually ever see in your lifetime...forty have seen you. That's not meant to frighten or anything...it just means that yes they are out there.
It's a great story and sounds like you had a wonderful adventure!

JDubya

Have seen two mountain lions in the lower reaches of the Lone Pine area. One on Lubken Canyon Road that goes by the sportmans club. The other south of the Shepherd Pass t/h on Foothill Road. Possibly the same critter 5 years apart? It was the same gray color and as curious about me as I of it.

The rangers (then, before the budget cuts) are happy to take the sitings. I was told that every cat is known, its movements tracked and a few are wired - most are tagged or at least identified. There is a web site about the study, long since misplaced in my files.

It is still a rare photo op. Both sat on a rock - at a distance - and watched me about as long as I watched them. I blinked first and left.

maybe others would follow this action: leave it alone