One of the special gifts of living in San Geronimo Valley is appreciating the abundance of wildlife in our midst - and respecting it at the same time. From the more common - like raccoons, skunks, squirrels - to the less-frequently seen - such as foxes, opossums, and coyotes - to the rare sightings - like bobcats and mountain lions: we are blessed to have them all as Valley residents.
Check out these MMWD reports on osprey, landbirds, and our native yellow-legged frog,
And here's the 2022 coho salmon report.
LIVING WITH WILDLIFE
While mountain lions are solitary and elusive by nature, Valley folks occasionally encounter one. If you happen to come upon one of these beautiful creatures, here are some tips for staying safe:
• DO NOT RUN. Stay calm. Do not turn your back. Back away slowly.
• PICK UP SMALL CHILDREN AND PETS. Do not crouch down or bend over: a mountain lion could mistake you for a four-legged prey animal.
• LOOK AS BIG AS POSSIBLE. Wave your arms; open your jacket if you're wearing one and spread it out as wide as you can.
• SPEAK LOUDLY BUT CALMLY. Make noise, but do not use high pitched tones or screams.
• IF A LION ATTACKS, FIGHT BACK. Many potential victims have successfully fended a mountain lion off with rocks, sticks, garden tools, even an ink pen or bare hands. Try to stay on your feet.
The Coast Miwok say the first people to inhabit Marin County were the four-leggeds more than 10,000 years ago. Mountain lion attacks are extremely rare. But it is always a good thing to be mindful and respectful of 'o-puk'sho (mountain lion in Coast Miwok) and all the creatures who have shared their land with us humans for millennia.
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Want to learn more about this magnificnt predator?
Read this in-depth article by our friends at
Sonoma County Regional Parks.
FOR AN EXTRA TREAT:
Enjoy these special scenes of our unique Valley lovingly captured and curated by Steering Committee member, Paul Berensmeier, over 20 years.