Mountain Lion Hike - Saturday, June 22, 2024
Juvenile mountain lion checking a scrape to see who has been there.
What: Mountain Lion Hike (New Area!)
Where: Northwest of Fort Collins (details will be sent to participants)
We will meet at Me Oh My Coffee and Pie in Laporte, Colorado at 7:15 am, 3310 WCR 54G, Laporte CO 80535
When: Saturday, June 22, 2024, 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $200 per participant (limited to seven participants)
Join other wildlife enthusiasts for a mountain lion hike and learn how they hunt and navigate across their territory. Many wildlife species are on the move as they prepare for summer, a time to fatten up, mate, care for young and more. Black bears are gorging on green grass and forbs, flipping rocks looking for insects and hopefully finding a few carcasses left over from the winter. And once in awhile they are successful in hunting their own prey. Beavers are near the top of their list. Mountain lions have more flexibility in how they hunt with less concern about calorie conservation as the nights and days are warmer. In Colorado, a high percentage of mountain lion kittens are born in early June and mid-August. Deer and elk will be dropping their fawns and calves in the next month.
You’ll learn how to find mountain lions as well as many other predator and prey species.
Expect a five mile hike with easy and moderate sections. Given the conditions, we will see tracks in dry sand and dirt, tracks in the mud as well as snow, where available.
Consider downloading the app iTrack for an excellent overview for mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, bears and numerous prey species, beginning with deer and elk.
The goal of this hike is to help you identify mountain lion activity and know where, when and how to look for their sign.
Mountain lion headed to a limited water source.
You’ll learn how to identify tracks of mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, red and grey foxes, Merriam’s turkeys, deer, elk and moose. You’ll also learn the difference between canine and feline tracks and how to identify tracks without any pad marks but simply a dimple in the surface, whether it’s snow, sand or another substrate.
Consider downloading the app iTrack for an excellent overview for mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, bears and numerous prey species, beginning with deer and elk.
The goal of this workshop is to help you not only identify sign of different wildlife species but also learn an incredible amount about what results in fantastic wildlife habitat.
A bear cub at a mountain spring. This bear has not seen a human being yet. Cheering the cub on for a long life.
WHAT TO BRING
layered clothing
decent footwear for hiking (closed toe footwear)
snacks and lunch
at least two liters of water
camera (cell phone is plenty)
a sauntering spirit
We will be stopping often to discuss the tracks and habitat of the wildlife that call this place home. There are many incredible connections worth learning that will enrich your time afield.
This is a great opportunity to ensure you have the Ten Essentials in your pack. Check out my Ten Essentials Plus system. If you’re just getting started, I highly recommend buying the SOL Bivvy XL first. It will save you from hypothermia and is an incredible shelter to wait out a thunderstorm.