Author and animal expert Diana L. Guerrero comments about the recent theory regarding David Gonzales and the cougar theory.
Living adjacent to the wilderness means you must pay attention to your surroundings...especially when you are out hiking.
Yesterday I hiked about 3.5 hours total. One hour plus was spent on the trail with another author pal. We chatted about some of the things on our mind...like why we don't hike in the heat of the day (rattlesnakes) and how you need to be on alert in the mornings and evenings (cougars and other animals).
Anyway, the recent discovery of the remains of David Gonzales was both a blessing and a tragedy. (Did I mention the location where they found his body is not too far from my home?) Most of us locals believe he was accousted by a human and then dropped back off in the same area at a later date. None of us believe the big cat theory.
Yes, there is a remote chance that it could have been a big cat BUT most cats shy away from human activity. It is one thing to be out in the woods alone, or on a trail alone, and another to be in or near a campground with lots and lots of people. (BTW most of the attacks that attack humans on the trail seem to be conducted by animals about two years of age and newly out on their own.)
Bears, yes--they have come into campgrounds and created problems due to humans ignoring the rules or established
safety protocols.
Anyway, stay tuned for the final forensic results but the existing marks appear to indicate animal scavengers and not killers.
Be sure to visit my website for cougar hints and tips at http://www.arkanimals.com for more information.
