“It’s sad but necessary,” noted Shah. “My kids,” ages 4 to 13, “play outside most of the time... it was just too dangerous for the kids to be out when this animal is loose out there. Any threat to your kids is a threat to your kids.”Late Wednesday night as Shah waited, the mountain lion returned and a spotlight revealed he had taken refuge in some brush. “We shot him on sight,” said Shah. Thursday morning, per instructions from Fish and Game, Shah transported the remains of the mountain lion to the Fish Hatchery in Fillmore.With wildfires striking rugged areas and the lingering drought, Shah said he has observed an increase in wild animals including deer, which makes his own situation somewhat puzzling. “What surprised me is we have so much wildlife... only when there is no food mountain lions and others will hunt your pets. But there has been so many deer around” that Shah said the mountain lion entering his property searching for food seems odd.
Wheeler Canyon man shoots and kills goat-killing mountain lion
November 21, 2007
Santa Paula News
A Santa Paula businessman living in a rugged canyon had to shoot and kill a mountain lion that had been killing his livestock, fearing that one of his five children could be next.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesA Santa Paula businessman living in a rugged canyon had to shoot and kill a mountain lion that had been killing his livestock, fearing that one of his five children could be next. Zahid Shah killed the approximately 100-pound mountain lion Wednesday night after receiving a permit from the Department of Fish and Game.Shah said that over a two-night period the mountain killed three goats. “I went to feed the goats and two were missing,” although signs were that the animals had been killed, and the next morning he found a third goat dead.“We know when a mountain lion kills they will come back to eat it... I have five small kids in the house,” and concerns of what the mountain lion might do next prompted Shah to contact the Department of Fish and Game. Shah said that agency Game Warden Chris Long visited Shah’s ranch and issued the permit - a legal necessity - for the mountain lion to be destroyed.
