Not so paranoid, after all

This is it, folks, I have graduated from poops and paw prints and have now entered the world of having seen a real live in the wild mountain lion. And by in the wild, of course, I mean on campus.

Here is a helpful map:


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I was biking up empire grade to head into the west entrance of campus, and staring off into the fields to my right, looking for my daily deer fix. But there were no deer to be seen! Until a little movement caught my eye, and ah yes, of course it is a deer...

BUT NO! It was shorter than a deer, and had a longer tail than a deer, and was distinctly more cat-shaped than a deer, sauntering along in a manner highly reminiscent of the ultimate of all feline specimens, Colonel Sahlins Bojangles (who is, at this moment, expressing his archetypical carnivoriousness by napping with his belly in the air). Not a deer at all! A vicious toothy predatory beast! Not but 500 feet from my bike ride!

If I hadn't been on my way to teach a class, I would have pulled over for extended ogling and death-thrills. Next time, I tell you, next time.