Monday, February 20, 2017

P-22 NEARYBY AND IN THE NEWS!

I gave Gerry a wildlife camera for his birthday last June.  Gerry hooked up the camera at the top of our hillside.  When motion is detected, the sensor activates the camera circuitry.  In the last six months he has captured on film many of the animals of Griffith Park including deer, coyote, bobcat, opossum and skunk.  

Lo and behold!  On November 30, the mountain lion P-22, which has made Griffith Park its home since February 2012, paid us a visit.  Here's the proof:


We aren't the only people who have been making movies about P-22.  In fact, "The Cat That Changed America" premiered earlier this month at the Santa Barbara Film Festival!

The movie stars P-22.  Our friend Beth Pratt CA Director of the National Wildlife Federation has a leading role.  Miguel Ordenana and Gerry Hans (Friends of Griffith Park) both have supporting roles.  You can watch the entertaining trailer here.

 
P-22 has also made it big-time in print.  The New Yorker magazine, February 13 issue, features a lengthy article, "Lions of Los Angeles" by Dana Goodyear. It is a worthwhile read to understand our local mountain lions and the many challenges.  I am quoted midway through the article, "Mary Button, a representative of Friends of Griffith Park, said, “We’re thrilled to have P-22 here in his home.”

Yesterday morning Gerry and I took a five mile hike in the park.  We walked along the muddy trail, less than a mile from the Observatory when Gerry identified P-22's tracks!

Cell-phone next to paw print so you can get the size perspective
 It is exciting to co-exist with P-22!