by David Torres

   On Saturday night, a mountain lion visited the ranch home of Kathy and Richard DiMaio of Gualala and killed one of their prized sheep.  Gary Johnson of Boonville and Gene Titus of Manchester, professional U.S. Federal trappers, were called in and identified the remains as the work of a mountain lion.  "The lion had dragged off the sheep into the woods and after feeding on it, buried it," said Titus.

   "The animal came back the next day and dug up what it had buried," said Kathy DiMaio.  "It must have been a big cat because it ate most of it.  It killed my sheep just 150 feet from our house."

   Titus said, "After feeding like that, it may not come back for a week."

   The DiMaio's property lies within close proximity to high density housing on Old Stage Road, where children often play, and not far from the proposed new Gualala school site.

   A month earlier, Bud Ross of Roseman Creek Road had lost one of three sheep, according to Titus.  On Monday of this week Ross reported another of his sheep had been killed.  Johnson and Titus are to inspect that site on Wednesday morning of this week and possibly set a trap as they have done at the DiMaio's ranch.

   "I have been given a permit to shoot that mountain lion," says the determined Kathy DiMaio.  "I would like to get that on my résumé."

   Roseman Creek is an area frequented by joggers and bikers along Old Stage Road, Titus noted.  "Mountain lions don't generally go after humans.  Sometimes they just lie in the bushes and may not react to you unless you spot them.  There used to be lots of wild goats around these parts but not anymore.  Mountain lions like goats."

   Mountain lions have a territorial radium of 25 miles and when young males are alienated from their pride they go looking fro their own turf.

   Experts give this advice:  if you are confronted with a mountain lion, do not run.  Back away slowly, making yourself look as big as possible, make noise, and do not make eye contact with the animal.

   Sadly, these magnificent wild animals, who are only trying to survive, have had their habitats taken over by humans.

   Realistically, though, nobody wants their beloved pets, children or themselves mauled or killed.  It's a no-win situation.

Click Here for a follow-up story on December 10, 2004 to THIS story...