Learn about mountain lions

FALLBROOK--Learning more about the Mountain Lion and its habits are vital to resident of rural areas. A Mountain Lion Outreach presentation is the next Fallbrook Land Conservancy’s Educational Series on February 8, 7:00 p.m. at the Fallbrook Community Center, 341 Heald Lane, Fallbrook. The program is a collaborative effort between the Embery Institute for Wildlife Health Center and UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine presented by Michael Puzzo of UC Davis.

In addition, Matt Rahn, who is the Director of the Field Stations Program for San Diego State University, will be on hand to speak for the Santa Ana-Palomar Mountains Wildlife Linkage: New Challenges and Opportunities

Approximately 80,000 square miles of California is considered mountain lion habitat. Although attacks are rare, as the population continues to sprawl into rural areas, encounters between humans and mountain lions are inevitable. With spring arriving and outdoor hiking, biking and horse trail riding increasing, education about the habits and behaviors of California mountain lions has become increasingly important. “To balance the demands for natural resources, people must learn more about the lifestyle and habits of the mountain lion, its prey and other life forms that share its habitat,” said Joan Embery, founder of The Embery Institute for Wildlife Conservation. The field research team has been conducting studies for the past 5 years in San Diego for the Wildlife Health Center, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Their purpose is to learn more about the habits of the elusive mountain lion.

Partners in developing the outreach program are UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and it is funded by The Environment Program of the San Diego Foundation. Additional partners include California Department of Fish & Game; California State Parks; The Anza-Borrego Institute and the Zoological Society of San Diego.

Mr. Rahn, so intricately involved in the fate of San Diego State University’s Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve, will share his information and answer questions regarding the proposed quarry (read-strip mine) immediately adjacent to the Reserve.