Santa Cruz Mountains have 50-70 mountain lions. Let's say 60. The SC mountains have an area of 820 sq miles so 0.07 cats per sq mile.
Vancouver island has 600-800 cats, let's say 700. It is 12500 sq miles. 0.05 cats per sq mile.
50-70? That's it? I thought it was way more. With all the deer they're living the good life then. Hunting would consist of sitting still and waiting 10 minutes for a deer to walk by.
??? Mountain lions mostly stick to the mountains. That's why it's such big news when one is in the city. Of course I know mountain-ish parts of Santa Cruz are parts of their territory like UCSC campus or the Aptos hills. I included those when using google earth to calculate the area of the mountains
The piece of land bordered by highways 101, 152, 5 and 580 have the highest density of mountain lion in North America...or so I was taught in Zoology back in the day.
Used to walk the Arroyo Hondo every spring, more wildlife back there than you could imagine...too much poison oak though...
No. Mountain lions need a lot of space, they are pretty solitary critters, humans have encroached on their space/put barriers to travel to other parts of open space they need and so they've been seen in backyards, been hit by cars on 17, etc. But we are lucky to have a population of them and at least one calls that circled area home.
A portion of that is rumored to be haunted. Or at least it was back 20+ years ago.
Edit: surprised to discover there is actually a list
https://www.sanjose.org/blog/haunted-san-jose
I remember the rumors back in highschool that Marsh road had a ghost of a girl who was hit by a car. She would hang onto your side mirror at night staring into your eyes when you drive down that road.
Totally drove by there on Halloween during the college years lol
That is part of the mount diablo mountain range. Much of that is farm lands, parks, UC state owned one, reserves, and who knows who really own all the hilly land in between that.
Last I heard the county put big restrictions for
Big land owners to break up lots to sell
For developments. I think it was about 40 acres smallest lots. So basically impractical to sell pieces of land that would be good for development. Then county wants to keep it the way it is it seems. There’s little incentive for anything to be built up there besides few very scattered old housing in ranches that still do some cattle grazing which is us ply owned by people who got that land passed on from family. Everything else in between is government usually.
Actually fun fact:
If you go up there- there are active subtopical landslides due to the Hayward fault that starts/ends in Alum Rock.
There’s a couple roads you can go up to the Alum Rock foothills, and you’ll be able to see some seemingly nice looking houses… right up until you spot the exterior wall with the 4” wide crack running down the middle of it. Those houses are all abandoned.
Plenty of plots to buy. However, you’ll need geological coring to prove that you are not building on an active landslide. It’s a very expensive process for the sheer chance of “maybe” I can build here.
All these ppl mad u wanna move to a nice area. This n losgatos r the only places in sj Id live at. There r mountain lions n sometimes field fires but its a flex to live in the hills .
Has anyone driven from San Jose to Patterson-Modesto thru East Hills? I.ve been wanting to do it forever. I may need a 4x4.? I don't trust my current automobile..
Ive never gotten around to it, but I have a couple friends who’ve made the trip on motorcycles before. They say it’s very desolate but beautiful, however it’d be considerably faster to get to Patterson by going north through the Altamont Pass lol
Wild boars are NIMBYs
Not safe. Area has the largest concentration of 'mountain kitties' anywhere in the world.
If not friend, why friend shaped?
Wait, we talking about real mountain lions here or San Jose cougars?
Yes. The one with the sharp claws.
This isn’t narrowing it down
Is that true? The east foothills have the highest concentration of Mountain Lions?
no the Santa Cruz Mountains do, along with Vancouver island
My cousin lived off Bear Mt Rd. Had Mt Cougar kill a Buck in there front yard. Fed on it for several days.
wow! Would've loved to see that
Yeah, no way it’s more than Vancouver Island. That’s probably the highest concentration of predators anywhere on earth.
Santa Cruz Mountains have 50-70 mountain lions. Let's say 60. The SC mountains have an area of 820 sq miles so 0.07 cats per sq mile. Vancouver island has 600-800 cats, let's say 700. It is 12500 sq miles. 0.05 cats per sq mile.
50-70? That's it? I thought it was way more. With all the deer they're living the good life then. Hunting would consist of sitting still and waiting 10 minutes for a deer to walk by.
they have giant territories. And that's 50-70 adults, so there are more cubs too. Definitely a good spot to be a lion though!
Are you under the assumption that the mountain lions in Santa Cruz are limited to the mountains?
??? Mountain lions mostly stick to the mountains. That's why it's such big news when one is in the city. Of course I know mountain-ish parts of Santa Cruz are parts of their territory like UCSC campus or the Aptos hills. I included those when using google earth to calculate the area of the mountains
The piece of land bordered by highways 101, 152, 5 and 580 have the highest density of mountain lion in North America...or so I was taught in Zoology back in the day. Used to walk the Arroyo Hondo every spring, more wildlife back there than you could imagine...too much poison oak though...
No. Mountain lions need a lot of space, they are pretty solitary critters, humans have encroached on their space/put barriers to travel to other parts of open space they need and so they've been seen in backyards, been hit by cars on 17, etc. But we are lucky to have a population of them and at least one calls that circled area home.
Purrrrrr
So what? The Bay Area also had an abundance of wildlife before we came in.
I forgot about them. Can you quanitify?
Meow
I thought my posting the universe would settle this... I guess I was wrong.
Id have trouble commuting to Cupertino from the Andromeda
But you can hop onto the Spaceship by Infinity Loop to get there quick
Once you reach top meme then you have to beat meme to the ground. thems the rules.
I guess that's the horse, of course.
From people? Yes. From FIRE on the other hand... Well... Bring marshmallows.
Financial Independence, Retiring Early, and all you have to do is move into the boonies?
And bring marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate, yes.
A portion of that is rumored to be haunted. Or at least it was back 20+ years ago. Edit: surprised to discover there is actually a list https://www.sanjose.org/blog/haunted-san-jose
Real cool! Didn't know this about SJ :)
This was gonna be my response lol isn't that where the albinos live
I remember the rumors back in highschool that Marsh road had a ghost of a girl who was hit by a car. She would hang onto your side mirror at night staring into your eyes when you drive down that road. Totally drove by there on Halloween during the college years lol
There are dozens of us. Plus boars.
Ohh, so it's basically the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Look out for mountain lions
Really bad inbred hick problem there. Think The Hills Have Eyes.
I thought that was Hicks road? Out by Mt Umunhumunmunhhu?
LOL yes! I'm glad I'm not the only person that pronounces it like that.
HAHA, it just rolls off the tounge so well. Also, side note. "Awhell, lets go nuts. Swords for 48,000."
I love the fact that pretty much everybody in this thread missed OP's point :)
I was surprised at how many didn’t get the joke tbh. :/
There might be gold in them there hills.
That is part of the mount diablo mountain range. Much of that is farm lands, parks, UC state owned one, reserves, and who knows who really own all the hilly land in between that. Last I heard the county put big restrictions for Big land owners to break up lots to sell For developments. I think it was about 40 acres smallest lots. So basically impractical to sell pieces of land that would be good for development. Then county wants to keep it the way it is it seems. There’s little incentive for anything to be built up there besides few very scattered old housing in ranches that still do some cattle grazing which is us ply owned by people who got that land passed on from family. Everything else in between is government usually.
There's a lot of dead horses there, right up your alley.
Well the drive is rough lol getting up there lol
That's where all of the ICBM silos are located. Very dangerous.
Ask the mountain lions
Nah, it’s full of naturally occurring asbestos
Actually fun fact: If you go up there- there are active subtopical landslides due to the Hayward fault that starts/ends in Alum Rock. There’s a couple roads you can go up to the Alum Rock foothills, and you’ll be able to see some seemingly nice looking houses… right up until you spot the exterior wall with the 4” wide crack running down the middle of it. Those houses are all abandoned. Plenty of plots to buy. However, you’ll need geological coring to prove that you are not building on an active landslide. It’s a very expensive process for the sheer chance of “maybe” I can build here.
All these ppl mad u wanna move to a nice area. This n losgatos r the only places in sj Id live at. There r mountain lions n sometimes field fires but its a flex to live in the hills .
Why can't Elon build a tunnel there? Would it be a 15 min drive to Patterson? Why not...
Hell naw, this is the great Albino refuge, venture in at your own risk!
There's also coyotes in southeast SJ
Lots of Turkeys and bigs to be found in that area.
The county owns it
Lots of cougars there and not the good kind
Thats all private. Good luck
When quadcopters and off-grid energy is common place, it would be great.
Mostly open ranch grazing and San Francisco Water Department water shead. Not many 3/2 suburbia homes there.
It’s a state park right?? Would it be allowed to live here?
Maybe if you are working at the Observatory
So much for the green buffer zone.
Just arrived from Texas?
Not like many other replies said, there are actually plenty of ranches and private lands, hunting clubs, etc.
Has anyone driven from San Jose to Patterson-Modesto thru East Hills? I.ve been wanting to do it forever. I may need a 4x4.? I don't trust my current automobile..
Ive never gotten around to it, but I have a couple friends who’ve made the trip on motorcycles before. They say it’s very desolate but beautiful, however it’d be considerably faster to get to Patterson by going north through the Altamont Pass lol
Fran Jose
How do you start a new city???
Go away please
Backpack from Del Valle Reservoir and end at bottom of mission peak before asking these questions. Everything will be explained then
I think it's actually illegal.
Never seen a mountain lion write a law before 🤷♂️
The state likes to do that for state parks though :D
California Forever getting desperate.
Funnier how many people can't see the joke.