The likelihood of ever encountering a mountain lion is pretty low, but in certain wilderness areas the possibility does exist, so you should know what to do if you come across one in the wild. With the growing popularity of outdoor sports like mountain biking and hiking, wild animal encounters are on the rise. So what should you do to avoid a mountain lion attack?
Be especially careful when hiking or camping with children in known mountain lion territory. Always keep children and teenagers close by. Mountain lions are attracted to children, so don’t let them wander too far away. They see children as small prey animals, which can sometimes tempt them to attack.
Awareness is your most powerful weapon. Situational awareness is your best defense from being attacked, and is the only way to ensure your safety in the wilderness. Ask yourself, are the birds chirping? Are squirrels chattering? If you stop hearing animal noises you need to ask yourself why. What’s in the area that these animals see as a threat?
Be on the lookout for fresh cougar tracks or signs of scat. This is especially important anytime you see fresh tracks over areas that you’ve already walked on. This is a surefire sign that you’re being tracked and stalked. Never squat or bend over while in mountain lion territory. Research shows that when a human bends over mountain lions can mistake them for a four-legged prey animal.
Making noise can actually help. If you’re walking where there’s a probability of there being mountain lions, the last thing you want to do is be completely silent. Some people mistakenly think that silence will protect them from these types of predators — it won’t! If you’re in an area with a mountain lion, chances are it already knows you’re there so silence isn’t really going to help. Make noise when you’re hiking. This will help ensure that you don’t walk up on an unsuspecting lion. If a mountain lion hears you approaching, more often than not it will slip away into the brush to avoid a confrontation.
If you do happen to come upon a lion, give it plenty of space so it can escape. The chances of just happening upon a cougar are actually extremely low. These cats are ambush predators; you will very rarely see them until it’s too late.
That being said, if you do come upon one, make sure you give it space and never, ever run! Running kicks in the cat’s natural hunting instincts. These cats see running as a sign that you are the prey; they will follow, and they will attack.
Stand your ground, stand tall, and pick up any children that are with you. If they do present themselves to you, they may be trying to size you up and see how you react. Stand strong, and make yourself look as big as possible. There’s still a pretty good chance the cat will leave without any kind of confrontation.
Featured Image from Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash
