Mountain lions are on the prowel and are scaring elderly, retirement-home residents in the community of Rossmoor, near Walnut Creek, CA. One concerned resident, photographed for the article who has pruchased air horns to scare away mountain lions, remarks: "I am scared out of my mind," Michel-Lehman said. "Half the people here can't see, the other half can't hear, the rest can't think -- they need to get rid of these things now before something terrible happens." Ben Casnocha's response to the article is "who can disagree with that?"
I disagree with Ben, and agree with the wildlife experts quoted in the article who say the big cats pose little danger to people and are just exhibiting normal mountain lion behavior -- hunting deer and keeping to themselves. They have just as much a right to be there as humans.
This is a familiar problem around the world. Natural habitat and territory of wildlife is being lost for human development. Wildlife comes closer into contact with humans because their territory is shrinking. We should learn to live harmonously with nature, not get rid of it because it is inconvenient. The people who bought property in Rossmoor' shouldn't complain about this causing a decrease in property values. This risk existed when they bought the property and these people chose to live there. There are risks and benefits to every decision we make.
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