Recently, a bear breaking into homes in Lee Vining was relocated to the Markleeville area and two days later, it was spotted back in Lee Vining. Also, important to know, relocation of wildlife doesn’t necessarily prevent wildlife from returning to the same area where it was relocated from. Occasional sightings of them are part of life in a rural setting and should not necessarily be cause for alarm.

It’s important to remember that mountain lions and other predators have been a part of the Owens Valley ecosystem for millennia. After a blessing, being smudged and a tobacco offering, the mountain lion was laid to rest. Once CDFW determined there was no need to remove the carcass or take samples, they deferred to the Tribe to handle any proceedings due to its location. It’s believed the mountain lion was shot elsewhere and succumbed to its wound on the reservation. Based on the evidence, the mountain lion’s cause of death was by single gunshot.

CDFW officials determined the mountain lion, had in fact, been tagged by the Department years earlier and was about 16 years old. During an extensive search, CDFW and Bishop Tribal Police located the remains of a deceased mountain lion on the eastern edge of the Bishop Reservation. On Monday August 2nd, after a call from a Bishop City resident, CDFW notified the Bishop Paiute Tribe of the possible location of a deceased mountain lion. Late last week, the Bishop Tribal Council formally requested the assistance from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in helping to remedy the recent mountain lion sightingsīecause CDFW is a State agency and the Tribe is on Federal land, a formal request was required to authorize CDFW to come onto the Bishop Paiute Reservation. By Press Release on Augin Bishop Paiute Tribe, California Dept Fish & Wildlife, Inyo County, Press Release, Public Safety

Deskovery mountain lion