Los Santos Insider | White Mountain Lion Causes a Stir Around Chiliad: Here's What You Should Know

[Degu]

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White Mountain Lion Causes a Stir Around Chiliad: Here's What You Should Know

Written by Gabriel Stone, 11/02/24

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Above: Ranger Vandroy and Sergeant White by a tree thought to be scratched by the white mountain lion.

 

Some months ago during an arson incident in the Chiliad wilderness area, a white mountain lion was spotted. Since then the animal hasn't been sighted until recently, we interviewed Sergeant White and Ranger Vandroy regarding the animal. 

 

Two sightings have been reported in the same area, the first being on the 5th of February during a Sacred Heart Foundation-organized hike. The kids spotted the animal during the hike at which point it fled further into the woods, rangers attempted to track the creature but were initially unsuccessful. On the eighth just a few days later it was sighted by a privately organized hiking group in the Cassidy and Raton area. The mountain lion jumped from a tree along the trail and roared at frightened attendees before running away. What's unique about this lion is that it's an adult with very pale coloration, described by Ranger Vandroy as "...easily distinguishable from your regular deer or coyote at a distance, almost white in color."

 

What Chiliad Visitors Need to Know

 

When asked if there would be any danger to visitors of the Chiliad area, Sergeant White responded "Whenever hiking, I'd say to stay as vigilant as you would be on any other hike. We're just visitors here, in wildlife's home." while reiterating that Mountain Lions are a normal part of Chiliad's fauna. Ranger Vandroy further added that visitors should not attempt to interact with the animal as it is "big and capable of causing harm, more so than a coyote would" but also added that "so long as visitors stick to the trails and take proper precautions, it should be safe"

 

SASP advises visitors to act as they would during any other visit and to respect nature. However they provided advice as to what to do should any visitors come face to face witht he mountain lion itself. Vandroy said "First and foremost try to keep calm. Don't panic— Easier said than done when you're face to face with one, but that's the number. Secondly, do your best to keep your awareness of where it is, and back away from it. Preferably get inside a vehicle. And by no means try to approach it." Sergeant White further added "Make yourself big. Stand your ground, don't face away from it or crouch down."

 

"The animal will consider you a trespasser into its territory; it wants you out of it, so doing just that will help with your situation." Added Vandroy and stated that as soon as any who encounter the animal are clear of the threat they should report sightings immediately to San Andreas Park Rangers on their landline: 808.

 

The Long-Term Plan

 

Parks hope to locate the animal and safely relocate it deeper into the mountains where it will be at less risk to causing harm to others, but importantly at less risk of being harmed itself by trophy hunters or curious visitors. "Once located we'll take the proper measures along with our team of veterinarians to sedate it and release it back deeper into the wilderness of Chiliad" Vandroy explained.

 

 

 

A Warning Note For Hunters

 

As with any unique animal, especially predators such as mountain lions, there's the risk of trophy hunting. Parks were very quick to reiterate that this activity is illegal. White said "Don't. The Wildlife and Conservation Act strictly prohibits doing that. If you do, and we find out, you will be convicted. Every hunter that we run into gets checked for licenses, and their vehicle may get checked as well" she reminded all hunters hoping to set out to make sure they're up to date with the WACA and classification of the wildlife in the area.

 

Parks stated that they're making an active effort to be on the lookout for any hunters and are actively informing those whom they find in the Chiliad wilderness region, they've even put up posters informing visitors at entrances to trails. There will be increased checks performed on hunters until the animal is relocated.

 

 Authors Note

 

Some time after the interview I was placing down LSI camera traps around the area, although naturally this carried a risk. I moved down from where scratch marks had been found on a tree and followed some tracks in wet mud to what appeared to be an empty den containing a pile of carcasses. After moving to safety and alerting parks they investigated the area. I've been extremely curious about the white puma since its first appearance last year, it seems SASP may be getting closer to safely capturing and relocating the animal. I will continue to investigate the story, hopefully the coming days yield some camera trap footage.

 

 

 

If You See Anything Relating To This Story - Call SASP On 808

 

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Edited February 11 by Degu

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