MOUNTAIN BIKERS BEWARE: ENTERING LION COUNTRY RECENT ATTACKS DON'T DETER SOME FROM RIDING.

Byline: Bill Becher Special to the Daily News

Taylor Burch rides his mountain bike in mountain lion country.

``I've seen mountain lions on rides,'' said Burch, who lives in Newbury Park and often bikes the trails in Sycamore Canyon at Pt. Mugu State Park.

``If didn't think there were wild creatures in wild places I wouldn't appreciate the ride as much.''

The recent death of a mountain biker and the mauling of another by a mountain lion later killed by Orange County sheriff's deputies haven't deterred Burch and others from continuing to visit Southern California's backcountry.

But officials are keeping Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in Orange County, where the attacks took place, closed until DNA testing confirms the mountain lion killed was the one responsible for both attacks. California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) spokeswoman Lorna Bernard said this might take several weeks.

``We do know there was human tissue in the lion,'' Bernard said. The 122-pound male tested negative for rabies and was in good nutritional condition. The mountain lion's age was estimated to be three to four years.

This was the fifth verified killing of a human by a mountain lion in California since 1890. Officials said the incident was tragic, but extremely unusual.

``Amidst all this heightened public concern we want people to realize that mountain lion attacks are rare and fatal attacks are extremely rare,'' Bernard said. ``Each time there is an attack, what we are able to learn is translated into recommendations on how people can be safe.''

The victim was alone in each of the past three fatal attacks in California.

``If you are in an area with mountain lions you will be safer if you are with other people,'' Bernard said.

Squatting down or bending down might make you look like a four-legged animal and encourage an attack. Mark Reynolds, the mountain biker killed, reportedly was squatting down to repair a broken chain when he was attacked.

Fight back if attacked, officials said.

Anne Hjelle, the second mountain biker attacked at Whiting Ranch, was rescued from the mountain lion's jaws by her cycling companion, Debbie Nichols. The big cat had pounced on Hjelle and tried to drag her away, but Nichols grabbed her friend's leg and held on as other cyclists threw rocks at the mountain lion until it let go.

Until 1963, the State of California classified mountain lions as ``bountied predators,'' meaning monetary incentives were offered for every mountain lion killed. Proposition 117, passed in 1990, declared the mountain lion a ``specially protected mammal'' but allows the DFG to remove or kill any mountain lion perceived to be an imminent threat to public health or safety.

The DFG logs all reported mountain lion sightings. On average, fewer than three percent of these reports result in a mountain lion being identified as an imminent threat and killed. The DFG killed 11 mountain lions in 2001 and 13 in 2002.

The mountain lion, commonly known as the cougar, panther or puma, is tawny-colored with black-tipped ears and tail. Adult males can be more than eight feet long, from nose to end of tail, and generally weigh between 130 and 150 pounds.

Mountain lions are powerful and normally prey upon large animals, such as deer, bighorn sheep and elk. But they can survive preying on small animals as well.

They usually hunt alone, at night. They prefer to ambush their prey, often from behind. Mountain lions usually kill with a powerful bite below the base of the skull, breaking the neck.

Because mountain lions are ambush predators, carrying pepper spray might not help, officials said.

Burch said the risk of being attacked on a mountain bike ride doesn't concern him. ``I'm more worried about driving my car on the freeway than mountain lions,'' he said.

Daily News wire services contributed to this report.

LIVING WITH LIONS

Half of California is considered prime mountain lion habitat. The Department of Fish and Game offers these suggestions, based on study of lion, leopard and tiger behavior, for people traveling mountain lion country:

--Do not hike alone: Go in groups, with adults supervising children.

--Keep children close: Observations of captured wild mountain lions reveal that the animals seem especially drawn to children.

--Do not approach a lion: Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.

--Do not run from a lion: Running might stimulate a mountain lion's instinct to chase. Instead, stand, face the animal and make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up if possible so they don't panic and run. Although it might be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.

--Do not crouch down or bend over: In Nepal, a researcher studying tigers and leopards watched the big cats kill cattle and domestic water buffalo while ignoring humans standing nearby. He surmised that a human standing up is just not the right shape for a cat's prey. On the other hand, a person squatting or bending over looks a lot like four-legged prey.

--Do all you can to appear larger: Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. The idea is to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you might be a danger to it.

--Fight back if attacked: A hiker in Southern California used a rock to fend off a mountain lion that was attacking his son. Others have fought back successfully with sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools and their bare hands. Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the attacking animal.

- California Department of Fish and Game

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Mountain lions have been involved in two recent incidents in California, one resulting in the state's fifth verified killing of a human since 1890.

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LIVING WITH LIONS