Doug Nielsen, spokesman for the Nevada Department of Wildlife and a veteran of the outdoors here in the desert Southwest, says that the disturbing thing about the mountain lion captured in a northwest Las Vegas neighborhood at the beginning of this new year was that she seemed awfully comfortable in the suburban environment. Which indicates a probable chance, he says, that she, about a year old, had been roaming the developed region for a few days, and perhaps even a couple of weeks.
Moreover, he says, the fact that she appeared thin for her size and age, combined with the fact that in 2007 the Las Vegas Valley reported an inordinate number of sightings of bobcats (a different species of wild cat), indicate that Southern Nevada’s long string of dry months has created a food shortage in these wild animals’ natural habitat. And that—to be cautious—could mean more cougars to come.
This, however, is nothing new. Las Vegas nightlifers have long known that there are plenty of cougars roaming this Valley, both homegrown and those just visiting for a weekend smorgasbord. In fact, it’s enough to scroll through the predatory tales on the website www.urbancougar.com to see that cougars are quite prolific in Las Vegas.
So what to do?
Nielsen says the cougar is marked both by its innate voracity and its utter elusiveness, and so the first order of operation when tracking down one that has roamed into urban development is to call authorities. Leave it up to trained state game wardens to trap the untamed beast. “We’re obliged to get in harm’s way,” says Nielsen.
Urbancougars.com takes the polar opposite approach: Position yourself, the site advises on its page for cougar-hunting tips, in a place where you think the cougar is likely to frequent. Grocery stores, art galleries, gyms, philanthropic fundraisers and, above all, hotel bars. “You never know when a hot traveling business cougar will be looking for a little release and guilt-free sex,” the site says. “Try to keep it upscale, though: You might get lucky at a Hampton Inn, but do you really want to?”
If confronted, Nielsen says, make yourself as big and formidable as possible and slowly back away. Whatever you do, do not turn your back and run.
Again, urbancougars.com takes a contrary approach. “Come up behind one and say something,” the site recommends. “Who cares if it makes sense. She’ll pretend it does and then feel extra good about ravaging you.”