Big #cat blamed in death of pygmy goats

Agoura resident granted kill permit

By Jonathan Smith

UNEXPECTED VISITOR—A security camera captured this image of what Fish and Wildlife officials believe was a mountain lion crossing a driveway in Old Agoura. Courtesy of Jack Gill At least $1 million in taxpayer money will be spent to create a freeway underpass to protect local wildlife such as deer, coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions.
If the animals are appreciative, they aren’t showing it.

Where's the story?  

Four pygmy goats were killed on a residential property in rural Agoura near Paramount Ranch on Dec. 29, and video evidence suggests a big cat, some believe a mountain lion, was responsible. 

 

Property owner Jack Gill suspects a slightly bent section of the chain-link fence on his 11-acre property at Cornell Road was the animal’s point of entry. Gill and his family were away from home at the time. “It’s pretty disconcerting to know you have an animal like this out and about in the neighborhood,” Gill said. “That’s pretty frightening.”

California Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson- Janice Mackey said her agency responded to the incident and that the rogue cat was not one that had been tagged for identification.

After determining that the animal pictured on surveillance footage was responsible, Fish and Wildlife granted Gill a “depredation” permit, which allows him to kill the animal if it enters his property again. The permit is rare and rarely results in the death of an animal.

In 2013, 148 depredation permits were granted in the state, but only 62 cats were killed or captured as a result, according to the state wildlife agency.

The sighting

When Gill arrived home that Monday, he found three of the small goats with mortal wounds. Another cashmere pygmy was apparently taken off the property— its hair was found on the outer fence.
One goat was able to hide and survived, Gill said.

He told the Acorn he believes the predator might still be in the area because of a recent rise in the noise level among area livestock and pets. “We’ve never seen one mountain lion here before,” he said. “We’ve known that mountain lions are in the area, but we’ve never seen one in our 26 years here.” Along with goats, Gill’s family also raises chickens and has several dogs. The goats help keep rattlesnakes off the property, he said.

Since the death of his goats, Gill isn’t taking any chances. He said he’s been keeping his pets indoors and is considering a pen that better safeguards his livestock. A cougar has a vertical jump of 8 to 10 feet. Gill’s fence is 6 feet high. He also passed out fliers to his neighbors warning them about the danger.

Other sightings

The incident at the Gill home comes on the heels of a Dec. 19 sighting of a young female cougar, classified as P-34, walking atop the backyard wall of a home in Newbury Park and a Dec. 31 sighting of possibly the same cougar on Hampshire Road in Thousand Oaks. The cat had been captured and relocated after the Dec. 19 sighting.

Kate Kuykendall, spokesperson for the National Park Service, said there are 10 to 15 mountain lions roaming in the Santa Monica Mountains, but human contact with the animal is rare. Most evidence of the lions’ existence comes from remote camera surveillance.

In California, mountain lions are not endangered but are a species of concern, Kuykendall said. More than half the state is considered mountain lion habitat.

Kuykendall said local residents should be mindful that they reside in “mountain lion country,” even if they don’t see the cougars, and should take precautions in protecting their livestock and pets.
The animal has many protectors in its corner.

Several activist groups, environmentalists and government officials came together in recent months to campaign for an improved wildlife crossing at the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills.

Initial funding for the $1-million freeway underpass at Liberty Canyon Road was approved and will assist mountain lions and other animals in their travels between the Santa Susana Mountains to the north and the Santa Monicas to the south.

Cougars in the range are turning to inbreeding, which could harm the species in the future, Kuykendall said. The freeway crossing would improve mating and hunting opportunities.

For information about mountain lions and how to protect livestock and pets, visit www.keepmewild.org.

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