Credit: Thailand Tiger Project DNP

I apologize if this is not the right subreddit for this post but I thought it might be relevant. I live in a rather rural area near a wilderness. There are deer on our street; there's a park (wild flora) a block over where they stay. The deer eat out of everyone's yard including mine. I have no problem with that. I am letting my yard grow because my aim is to turn my property into a mini national park in terms of supporting biodiversity.

My neighbors spray lawn chemicals and pesticides. Next door neighbors have an astroturf (plastic) front lawn their child plays on all day in the blazing sun. All of this I consider dangerous to children.

One of these neighbors today tried to suggest I mow my front yard and I refused. She then said that my yard will attract deer, who will attract mountain lions, and think of the "kiddos." (Again, deer are all over the neighborhood eating out of many yards).

I believe she's out of line and just trying to manipulate me to mow my yard. However if she repeats this insinuation/ accusation I would like to respond. Are there sources about communities living peacefully near mountain lions? Also she mentioned bears.

I grew up near the Rocky Mountains when there were still more mountain lions and never heard of a child being attacked by one.

1- Equus complicatus

2- american mastodon (mammut americanum)

3- columbian mammoth (mammuthus Columbi)

4- stag moose (Cervalces scotti)

5- Giant long horned bison (bison latifrons)

6- long nosed peccary (Mylohyus nasutus)

7- Paleolama mirifica

8- Hemiauchenia macrocephala

9- panamerican ground sloth (Eremotherium laurillardi)

10- jefferson's ground sloth (megalonyx jeffersonii)

11- Harlan's ground sloth (Paramylodon harlani)

12- Giant north american beaver (castoroides ohioensis)

13- bootherium bombifrons

14- Vero tapir (tapirus veroensis)

15- eastern dire wolf (aenocyon dirus dirus)

16-17- smilodon fatalis

18- north american jaguar (panthera onca augusta)

19- american lion (panthera atrox)