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chick-on
Not common to see in the backcountry... but obviously there are quite a few sightings in and around the valley.
Cats by nature are very elusive. I personally have only seen one on Aspen Valley Road
and another on Old Big Oak Flat Road. Have yet to see a Mountain Lion... but they're out there.
The only time I saw a wild mountain lion was in February of (I think) 2003 in Yosemite on Old Big Oak Flat Road less than a mile from Northside Drive. It was a February with almost no snow on the Valley floor. I came upon her just after I had crossed over some deadfall at a slight bend on the road. There she was about 30 yards away up the road. Of all things she was perpendicular to the road, grazing on some long dry grass on the side of the road near some bushes and shrubs.
At first glance, I thought I had come across a young fawn because her head was down in the grass like how a deer would graze. But then she popped up her head and it was definitely a head of a feline and not a deer (nor a coyote). I carefully studied her, staying motionless and silent. She had a very long tail, so I knew I came across a mountain lion and not any sort of supersized bobcat. It was a pretty scrawny mountain lion that was not quite fully grown. Funny thing, she never once turned her head toward me. Instead, when she was done grazing on the dry grass she continued up Old Big Oak Flat Road and out of my sight after she had gone past another slight bend on the road.
At that time since I was alone, I thought it would be best to turn back and head back down the road to Northside Drive, so I did.