please help identify the predator

[OrpingtonManor]

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yes, we are in the hills along hwy 4. I am betting they are still here. My neighbors report seeing them periodically. They are very elusive, though.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

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Based on this chart, it was definitely a mountain lion. The size and shape of the track were definitely larger than 3 inches, and round pads and foot, not elongated like canine. I have pics of the canine tracks from today, and they are entirely different. Easily coyote, or some local dog, but not cat today. I wish I had pics of yesterday's tracks. Live and learn.

 

[Miltonchix]

Mountain Lions primarily prey on deer. Bear will kill to eat but is primarily a scavenger/browser (plants).
DON'T!!! count on a Mt Lion running from you. They absolutely WILL stalk and kill a human. We are very easy prey for them.
Since the banning of dog hunting for Lions the populations have exploded. Since cats are very territorial the more of them there are the more dangerous they become. They need a very large area to hunt in and won't tolerate another cat in their territory. Therefore YOUR backyard becomes last years kittens hunting grounds. The younger, less experienced cats are some of the most dangerous. They haven't perfected their hunting skills and will take any EASY prey they can get. SLOW PEOPLE make easy prey.
If you live in their territory you MUST educate yourself on their habits. Set up some game cams so, if need be, you can show Fish and Game what you're dealing with and they will trap/destroy it.

 

[maplesky7]

Big cat attacks are usually done to people who are jogging, riding a bike, or even just hiking.... running will instill their attack mode for sure.

and cats bite down on the esophagus to cut the air way off until they stop struggling... I've seen big cats hunt together on the Discovery or Animal planet... where one takes down the hind end and another grabs the throat.

hey orpie, i'm not sleeping in your coop now after all, no matter what special food your feeding every body.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

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We live in a wooded "suburban" neighborhood just 1/2 mile from downtown. But, this borders a huge regional park, stretching roughly 10 miles X 3 miles. The deer paths run through our yards like nature trails at a schoolyard. On a summer day, if I am working outside, I see about 50 deer go through my yard browsing and sleeping. The fawns are born here in May. The herd runs through during fall rut. The drama of life and death plays itself out within view of my window. Not a year has gone by where a deer hasn't died either in my yard, or just on the other side of the fence. But, it never happened because of a predator before. I hadn't ever considered a game cam before this. Guess it's time.

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I don't think the mountain lions hunt together here. It seemed odd that this attack seemed to be from the rear.
The girls like their oatmeal with quinoa, but I'd stay home for green bean casserole, too!

 

[Miltonchix]

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I used to live just over the mountain from you near Reno. I worked in Verdi (right on the Cal./Nev border) I would see cat tracks around the building daily. When I informed the owner/boss he told me I didn't know what I was talking about. Until I showed him. He stayed there overnight on regular basis and would wander outside at night. Not after I showed him cat tracks INSIDE his footprints.
The elementary school had to keep the kids inside for awhile as they had a big cat spotted stalking kids on the playground. Fortunately the cat didn't cross the 6' chainlink fence that was put up to keep Mt Lions out.

Sounds like California needs a special deer hunt if you're seeing so many. More prey=more predators ie: BIG CATS.

 

[deekayfry]

Big cats seem to encroach upon humans when there isn't enough prey but the opposite is true, too. They may also be drawn to homes because of the smell of food or a food source. A grown deer is too much of a challenge for a cat. Big cats don't hunt with a challenge in mind, like all predators they go for the easiest kill those that are slow, sick, young, or dieing. Since you mention you saw a dead fawn it is likely attacked because it was too slow or possibly was born there.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

didn't catch this last post, deekafry. The fawn was not newborn. It was one of the young animals born last spring. It was over 6 months old, and well on its way to being yearling-sized. The deer population here is booming. Most does have twins, which is not good. No doubt, the big cat population is also increasing, as a result. The vultures were out circling again today, but were a ways off, so I didn't go in search of the carcass. I am going to investigate a game cam so I can get a better idea of what we're dealing with.

 

[quailraisingMan]

you should stay out of the clearing from where birds are circling ;] most likely a dead carcass is around

 

[Uzuri]

Big cat could have easily suffocated the deer and left no puncture marks on the forequarters. But all the good stuff's in the back half, so it'd be no surprise to see it start to *eat* from there