Random Thought Thread

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This area backs up to the Los Padres National Forest after a couple of miles, so we get our dose of coyotes, black bear and mountain lions - all of which love those little kitties. And dogs. And small children.

Houses end about 100 ft away from here, then just a fence after which is nothing, which means a very occasional mountain lion sighting on our street.

The little children and dogs I worry about. The cats, well..............

 

Not hated, but if I ever see one when my kids are around, I fear that I may have to take it out with the EDC. Outweighing the average coyote by a good 165-170 lbs (conservatively according to Wikipedia), I don't think it will end well for the coyote.

 

For someone who lives in urban San Diego County, I encounter coyotes more often than most residents because where I lives is high up in the hills so we naturally have a variety of wildlife up in here (San Elijo Hills) which also include mountain lion, bob cat, deer, 2-3 varieties of rattlers, hawks, barn owl in addition to cotton tails and rodents, lizards, etc... But no bears as those are more of aa Northern Cali type of wildlife which at times have been known to traverse a bit down South to the Los Angeles County lines.

I have personally had to report cats mangled and decimated by coyotes to two families in the neighborhood who had posted missing cat signs which I had stumbled upon the murder scenes. Why this kind of stuff happens to me? Because I walk my dog a lot and we go on lots of hikes off the beaten path! Luckily have not come across mountain lions in person but have had bouts with deers and as you know where there's deer there is also larger cats! Case in point: coyotes are very cognizant of preserving energy and rarely attack because they are also preservationists and hate to get injured. Of course they will attack if in a pack and see odds to their favor or if the opposition happens to be smaller animals or children. Whenever my large female German Shepherd and I have come across coyotes during our hikes, they observe with curiosity and back away gently as the Shepherd goes apeshit and wants to drag me on her leash to attack to cause melee and mayhem!

I am much more concerned about getting attacked by other dogs while walking unleashed than any coyotes!

 

Bears tend to wander into the outskirts of several cities in San Luis Obispo county, but less so in the northwest part of the county near the ocean. But the cats still do, meaning the mountain lions.

 

Huh, interesting. Thanks the responses. I understand where you guys are coming from!

Down here, we don't have any mammals to worry about. Biggest threat would be an offleash, untrained dog. I've had to boot a pitbull in the face one time but that's about it.

@Casinostocks if you ran into a mountain lion, would you be able to defend yourself? Gun or pepper spray?

 

Catnip.

Duh!!

 

Bacon is the answer. Run away and drop some bacon as you're running!

 

No, we are prohibited from carrying guns in the hiking trails surrounding my neighborhood. I don't carry pepper spray either. Facts are that getting attacked and mauled by mountain lions are extremely rare which are even rarer that their sightings, There have been sightings of those cats prowling some residential streets in the past, specially on trash days when they can probably sense the scent of whatever they get a whiff of.

Lets face it, if a female mountain lion trying to protect her cubs or a large male hunting for food happens to come across you and stalks you as prey while you are totally unaware, then you may be royally farked! Other than that if you happen to sight one and there is ample distance in-between, you must make yourself to appear large by extending your arms up in the air and causing a raucous of sorts so that the large cat just backs away as they do not seek confrontation other than the examples already given. Having a larger dog with you on leash can also be a deterrent as the dog barks its head off.

All that said, Dave is our resident mountain lion whisperer and he can give more insight as to how to wrestle those large kitties

 

The trouble with mountain lions is that I never see them. I know there is one that hangs out where I work in the woods from time to time. But I have never seen one. I've heard the forest go quiet when he is around, but never seen him.
Here is from a couple years ago. You can see me walking by a game camera, then six minutes later he walks by the same way. I never saw him.

He hasn't followed me recently, but he is a lot bigger and healthier these days. He was pretty hungry and skinny two years ago.

 

Good stuff. You're right, Dave should be along shortly to share his many stories of 'wrestling kitties'...

He's a wild man, that Dave! I swear!

 

Woah. That's cool! Sneaky SOB!!

 

Gun?!? Hahahaha! He's in commiefornia.

Dull stick at best. Even then he'd probably get charged with animal cruelty!

 

Hey now! I for one dig living in "commiefornia". Plus the guns which I happen to carry, are permanently attached to my shoulders

 

LOL lemme guess, "minnie mouse" and "pooh bear"?

 

Busted! How did you know? Clever Lad

 

Knowing what people name their 'guns' is my specialty. I think I was gifted at birth

 

Sharpening the stick is considered premeditation.

 

I'm quite happy to live in a state with a lower rate of gun ownership and concealed carry - just as long as I have significantly more firepower than the masses.

 

My father always said this about concealed carry: "Bad guys think twice when they think that little old granny might pull a .45 out of her purse and turn their head inside out." I tend to agree, and as long as people maintain sensible judgement, I support concealed carry. As a result, I don't feel like I need more than the masses, just enough to take care of the bad guys. I wouldn't want granny to waste her hard earned bullets if I can help it.

 

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The word "firepower", in the context written, has to do with single weapon model, caliber and load, not at all about the number of guns.