Answer: MOUNTAIN LIONS EAT DEER! The two videos below were shot in the same location 1 day apart using a Bushnell Trophy Cam video camera, which is an infrared/motion sensing device that is wonderful for capturing images and video of wildlife. Here the camera was mounted on a trail in the Santa Ana Mountains on the east edge of Orange County. The camera was left for about 10 days in this location, but I had been mounting it in various places for about 6 months at this time.
The elusive goal – to capture a mountain lion on film. Many deer had been caught on film up until this time, and they often appeared rather skittish. In addition to the deer, there was footage of coyotes and bobcats as well. But no mountain lion until this iteration of filming.
Skittish Deer in Daytime …
Notice that in the first video below the deer appear rather cautious …
… Wild Mountain Lion at Night
The video below was filmed a night prior from exactly the same spot as the video above. I think we can now understand why the deer are so nervous! You would be too if this beast was lurking around! The mighty mountain lion is truly a magnificent and beautiful animal – a stealthy and powerful creature that is without question the apex predator in these parts.