M122

I was at our monthly Girl Scout Service Unit Meeting a week ago.  We had a Guest Speaker from the Irvine Ranch Conservancy. She told us about the programs the agency offers, concentrating on the ones geared towards kids. On page 15 of their "Activity Guide" book "IRVINE RANCH Natural Landmarks ~Let's Go Outside!~"  was a box for OUR HIKES! Yes, the ones my daughter & I have lead for nearly 18 years. My daughter will be turning 18 in September and SHE has been on most of the hikes with me. She has never lead one but, she is always there to help out.

Well, I had to tell all the leaders that if they wanted to do THAT activity, that we are the Docents on the 2nd & 4th Saturdays. 

After the meeting one of the Leaders came over to me to get my information and to show me some pictures and a video that a friend of hers had posted to Facebook.  The video wouldn't play but, the pictures were of a collared (radio collar) cougar!  OH! MY! Her friend had set cameras out and captured this cat on video! 

Last September, we lost a dear Ranger and friend.  She had taught me almost everything that I know about these beautiful cats including how to read their tracks.  The weekend after she passed away my Girl Scout Service Unit was camping out in O'Neill Regional Park. I toll my troop on a hike to find a Geocache in the park. We took Hoffman Homestead Trail out to the Monastery.  Along the way, we found cougar tracks.  I have lost my calipers that I used to measure the tracks when I'd find them. So, I took pictures.

I felt the presence of Donna even thought it was a Cougar track.  I don't know but, perhaps these tracks are from that same cat.

At her Celebration of Life service we met some of her colleagues. Some who she worked with in the Cougar Studies that placed the collars on the cougars. 

I contacted one of them and asked him if he might know which cat had been captured on the camera.  He replied to me that he indeed knew.  M122.  He's a 2 to 2 1/2 year old male.  He covers long ranges trying to find a place to call "his own". 

I was able to get the guy with the camera connected with the guy who placed the collar. They are now exchanging information about M122. The data from his collar transmits about once an hour. Having him on video adds much to his information.
It was a great week.