You’re 5 miles into your hike when you hear an ominous growl that’s just way too close for comfort. That’s when you notice a mountain lion sizing you up, stalking in slowly. What do you do now? Let’s talk about how to handle a mountain lion encounter.
A Few Facts About Mountain Lions
Mountain lions are also called pumas, cougars, catamounts, ghost cats or panthers.
They can reach speeds of up to 50mph in a dead sprint.
Male mountain lions can weigh up to 220lbs, and females up to 140lbs.
Mountain lions are incredible powerful and agile. They have the ability to bound up to 40 feet while running, and leap 15 feet up into a tree.
Mountain lions are the largest cats with the ability to purr.
There is estimated to be about 30,000 mountain lions in the United States.
Only about 1 in 6 mountain lion Cubs survive to adulthood.
When are you most likely to see a mountain lion?
Mountain lions are most active between dusk and dawn so if possible, avoid hiking during these times.
If you are out early, avoid hiking alone as lions are less likely to approach a larger group. Similarly, if you’re out late then stick with your group, make sure to carry a bright flashlight, and maybe even take bear spray.
If you plan to hike with a dog, especially a small dog, make sure to keep them leashed so they don’t become the victim of a mountain lion attack. Make sure to keep small children close by as well.
The following recommendations come straight from the Point Reyes NPS website. We’ve summarized them for your convenience.
If you encounter a mountain lion:
Stay calm. Hold your ground or back away slowly. Face the lion and stand upright.
Do not crouch down or bend over. Biologists theorize mountain lions don’t recognize standing humans as prey. Crouching or bending over may make you resemble prey.
DO NOT RUN FROM A LION. Running may trigger a mountain lion’s instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up, if possible, so they don’t panic and run.
If the mountain lion moves in your direction or acts aggressively:
Do all you can to appear intimidating. Attempt to appear larger by raising your arms and opening your jacket if you are wearing one. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice.
If the mountain lion continues to move in your direction:
Start throwing things at it. Aim for its body as accurately as you can, but avoid aiming at its head. Aiming at its head could result in the cat being blinded in one eye, which could make it more dangerous to other hikers who later visit the park.
If the mountain lion attacks you:
FIGHT BACK! Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the attacking animal. Also, if you have a backpack, try to position it to serve as body armor or a shield.
Conclusion
When it comes to a mountain lion encounter, the odds are definitely in your favor. But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. So, if you ever find yourself staring into the eyes of a beast, remember to stay calm, follow these recommendations, and you’ll probably have a good story to tell your friends.
Stay Safe & Stay Alive,
Cody
The Wild Bites Back
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