Appears to be a 1.5-2.0 year-old male animal (although paper says 2-3 year-old), based on presence of spots, dentition, and overall size and development of body. Animal was reported by local paper:
Dead mountain lion found off Highway 13 is likely victim of urbanization
By Justin Phillips, Contra Costa Times
© Copyright 2011, Bay Area News Group
Posted: 06/28/2011 03:59:05 PM PDT
Updated: 06/29/2011 05:58:12 AM PDT
Ron Post is accustomed to being around animals. He owns chickens and pigs, and his children participate in the 4-H Club. Few animal sightings stir his emotions or leave him speechless, unless it's the sight of an approximately 100-pound mountain lion lying dead on the side of the highway. Yet that's what happened as Post was on his way to work Monday morning, when he pulled his vehicle over on Highway 13 at the Joaquin Miller Road exit to get a closer look at what he initially thought was a large dog.
'It was a surprise to me because I had never seen an animal like this so close to a neighborhood,' he said. 'There was no real damage to (the mountain lion.) I'm assuming it was struck by a car.'
Post estimated the cat was about 4 feet long, with a 3-foot tail; its paws were about 6 inches across.
Despite concerns about finding the mountain lion in such a densely populated area, the incident is not unusual, said Steven Bobzien, ecological services coordinator for the East Bay Regional Park District.
'Vehicles are the second leading cause of death for these animals within the state,' said Bobzien, who estimated the cat was struck and killed sometime between 4 and 6 a.m. Monday. 'These cats have to move around within fragmented and highly altered habitats in this area because of urbanization.'
Bobzien suspects the mountain lion -- a male he thinks was about 2 or 3 years old -- ended up on the highway by following a path familiar to other large animals.
'The puma may have traveled down Palo Seco Creek, which is very close to the offramp,' Bobzien said. That creek, however, goes underground as it crosses under Highway 13, forcing large animals to cross over the highway -- 'which is extremely risky,' he said. The sighting may be unique, Bobzien said, but the reason the animal was found along the highway is far more common. 'This is not unusual behavior in busy urban areas,' Bobzien said. 'And with more people on the highways, there are also more vehicles.'