Keep an eye on El Dorado County: Epicenter for mountain lion conflict.
Dear editor,
Our eyes on El Dorado County... First let's establish the fact that nearly 100% of humans think mountain lions are spectacular animals which should thrive on our wildlands. Mountain lion abundance in the wild is very different than in backyards, greenbelts, public parks and school yards. Like a Jeff Foxworthy joke gone bad, you don't have to be a redneck to wonder about mountain lions in your neighborhood, in California.
Mountain lions are not in danger of extinction in California, they're abundant. Thirteen states use regulated hunt/harvest of lions to ensure the success of entire ecosystems. Lions thrive in those states too. Emotionally fueled voting eliminated this tool from California decades ago. On top of that, CDFW policies (experiments?) put lions further up on a pedestal, making effective management nearly impossible. Humans, pets, livestock, grazing goats, and iconic species such as mule deer and the endangered Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep don't rank on the political value index the way mountain lions do.
Back to El Dorado County: home of Taylen and Wyatt Brooks, who suffered a brazen daylight attack by a mountain lion in March of 2024. Taylen died and Wyatt sustained severe injuries, fighting for their lives. El Dorado County is also where exponential growth in mountain lion predation on domestic animals puts them on track for > 200 loveable pets and homestead livestock being killed by mountain lions in 2024. Residents here love wildlife, but now they're on edge and telling them to “co-exist” doesn't resonate.
So, when are we watching El Dorado County? Tuesday Oct. 8th the County Supervisors will host a discussion of citizen concerns, and formally consider requests for policy changes from the CDFW. How CDFW Director Bonham responds will tell you a lot about where you'll stand when this problem comes to your neighborhood.
