Battles!

Location: Echo Canyon State Park

Feeling proud from successfully catching their last prey, the mountain lion slowly walks down to Echo Canyon Reservoir to get a drink of water. With their wounds almost healed, the mountain lion starts to make their way back to a resting spot in the mountains and sees the roadrunner searching for food along the trails. The roadrunner is still nursing its injured wing and is unaware of the mountain lion. The roadrunner’s full concentration is on any movement in the brush in front of them that could be a tasty bug, lizard, or maybe even a rodent. Meanwhile, our mountain lion has noticed that the roadrunner is not operating at full strength. The mountain lion continues to observe the roadrunner by silently stalking after it. 

Finally, the mountain lion makes a move and pounces forward. The roadrunner quickly pulls its focus from its search for critters, and with quick reflexes and strong legs, jumps away from the paws of the mountain lion; but not quite fast enough. It is a rough landing for the roadrunner, losing three feathers from the tail and two feathers from an already injured wing. The mountain lion lands with feathers in its claws but no bird. The roadrunner has lost feathers, is possibly injured again, and is a little dazed from being so startled. The mountain lion has lost the element of surprise but moves quickly to take advantage of the roadrunner’s slow recovery. The mountain lion makes a second pounce and this time is successful. The roadrunner does not escape this time and becomes a tasty snack for our new victor! 

Result: Mountain Lion is victorious!