The mountain lion left the carcass of the big buck at the base of Alicia’s backyard hill.
The buck seemed too big for the lioness to drag any further. Alicia woke up before dawn and looked to see if the buck was still there
She noticed that the carcass had been eaten further. She watched it and waited patiently to see if the lion would return.
She didn’t have to wait long. The lioness approached the carcass a few minutes later and Alicia almost snorted coffee out her nose when a second, smaller lion joined it.
Mama and teenager.
Holy Venison, Batman!
The day before, when Alicia first reported to me from her Wild Kingdom, she said the mountain lion looked so big she thought for sure it was a male. I said, ”Well at least it’s not a mama with cubs, that might be a real dangerous situation.”
Oh crap.
The cub seemed older, more of an adolescent than a baby. It was nearly the same size as its mother, probably about a year old.
The female lion is wearing a radio collar.
The pair of lions started to feed on the carcass. According to Alicia the meal was cooperative and carried out in a very orderly manner, unlike dinners at my house.
Mountain lion doing the dishes
After the two mountain lions had finished their meal, they took turns burying the carcass, which, I guess, is the mountain lion’s version of the doing the dishes. My kids don’t do the dishes without a fight.
Maybe tomorrow night I’ll give them a choice between washing plates and burying a dead deer.
The Mid-Peninsula Open Space researchers came up in the afternoon and placed an infrared field camera near the carcass.
In the next couple of days it should record some great insight into the everyday life of a mother lion and her offspring.
Heaven knows I could use some tips.
I can't wait to hear more if there's more news. I'm riveted!
~Angela~
Posted by: Angela (Cottage Magpie) | September 04, 2011 at 10:28 PM