I didn't taw a putty tat.

There's some great foofaraw over a mountain lion sighting in Los Altos Hills - somewhere around Rhus Ridge, Hidden Villa, Foothill College, that sort of area.

Out for walkies at Rancho San Antonio this morning, I encountered conspicuous new warning signs and the occasional worried runner.

(Hint: if you're worried about predators, don't run. Even a Chihuahua will chase a runner.)

I'm not especially concerned, being as how I'm much bigger than a mountain lion, amble around on my hind legs, and generally look and act like a well-fed apex predator.  Besides, I've got my sure-fire mountain-lion repellent: I started carrying a camera after seeing a mountain lion at Rancho about 20 years back, and haven't spotted one since.

On my way back, I encountered two, count 'em, two big paramedic trucks parked in the schoolbus area.  Preparing to deal with a flood of mauling victims?

Further: as best I can tell from news accounts, two people saw the cat over the weekend, out in the woods where mountain lions belong.  Nothing about it being aggressive, or wandering into populated areas.  So why all the fuss?  Mountain lions have been in these hills since forever, occasionally crossing paths with people, and it's never been a secret nor cause for alarm.  Is there something about the latest sighting They're not telling Us, or is it just silly overreaction?

Update: photographic proof!

Friday morning, I encountered a furry, tan, long-tailed mammal, which in all other respects was entirely unlike a mountain lion.  Here's the rather blurry proof that I met with a not-a-mountain-lion!

Now, at this point, you may be thinking "Who gives a rat's patootie?"  Well, just moments later, I discovered that a previous user of the trail had in fact given a rat's patootie:

Comments

[Marcus]

Here in Atlantic Canada the Gov swears that we don't have mountain lines but all sorts of people keep seeing em...

[Ronald]

"occasional worried runner" - ya think? :)