Woman Sees Mountain Lion Spoor Near Lake Chabot

Spoor is what hunters call any sign of animals they are tracking.

Gwenn Olson, who lives around Estudillo Avenue and Lake Chabot Road, wasn't hunting but she did see what she thinks is mountain lion spoor. She sent Patch the photo above with these clues and reasonings:

1. The snap in the branch is about 6.5 ft up, it could not have been done by a car or truck.
2. The branch is the thickness of a circle made with my thumb and forefinger. The bark is shredded and part of it peeled off.
3. It does look like there are claw marks off to the left, but it is not in this picture. I can retake.
4. I have had a lion kill a raccoon and take in up into my tree (about 8 ft up), and they have in the past overturned my green bin when it was too heavy for even a 60lb raccoon.
5. Occasionally, I smell their spray, and sometimes they spray in my yard--my dogs like to roll in it.
6. There have also been wild boar in my yard, but I don't think they could do this, nor do I think a deer did it.
7. There are no stray dogs in the neighborhood. 

"I was going to talk to the naturalist at the lake, but I was told they are in transition in that position. It would be nice to know for sure what did this. It is pretty impressive. People around here do see mountain lions walking down the road early in the morning on occasion since we are right across the street from the park."

What do you think? Have you seen signs of mountain lions? Share comments or pictures, please.

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