My name, friend, is P-22

Not a very memorable name. I guess the “P” stands for puma, which is one of the things you can call him, as well as a cougar or a mountain lion.

In other words, a large (adult human-sized) feline predator with really big teeth that can run way faster than you ever hoped you could. P-22. The Puma in the Park. 

And, now, he tweets: @P22MountainLion. Of course he does, this is Hollywood, in fact, his range includes the side of the mountain the Hollywood sign itself sits on. Sample (actually, I think it’s the first tweet): It’s pretty simple really. I’ve always wanted to use a telescope. 

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! (ref for non-Angelenos: there’s a big famous Observatory in the Park)

A Sunday morning hike in Griffith Park

The news of P-22’s residence has kind of thrown me into a quandary. You see, Griffith Park has been a place I’ve gone to for respite from the city for over 30 years now. I’ve seen it through its crazy gay cruising days, its fires, my 10-K and marathon trainings, lots of bicycling and lately more leisurely hiking activity as befits a man with graying hair.
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Sometimes – and recently – we’re reminded of nefarious things going on in the huge park. Maybe it’s just me, but the idea of some quite evil murderer dropping off a severed head in the bushes is not in the same league as the thought of every step inside the park being stalked by a wild predator.

The powers that be (read link article from KPCC, also there’s a few Los Angeles Times stories) insist that mountain lions try to avoid people and will stay away from us. Besides, they’re nocturnal, and there’s few people in the park after dark – which is wise, because there are no lights in the hills and there’s lots of coyotes wandering around. Now there’s just another reason to avoid it after dark.

I suppose I will continue to go on my hikes. I will probably buy some pepper spray and take my pocket knife with me, because, well, you never know. I used to do quite a bit of hiking up Mt. San Jacinto above Palm Springs, and there were Mountain Lion signs all over the place. I asked the Rangers if it was anything to worry about and they said no. “We know they’re here, but in all my INSERT HUGE NUMBER HERE years working up here I’ve never seen one.

“Just stay on the trails.”

Right-o.

Other links: Cougar Info, LAist story on P-22