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Travis Olander 12.14.23
The nonetheless pictures of the mountain lion above come from a video shot by a hiker strolling in Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, in fall 2020. For six minutes, the feminine grownup cougar stalks the hiker and shows intense aggression and feigning expenses. The not-quite-an-attack was instigated by the hiker’s unlucky shut encounter with the lion’s cub. You may view the unique video right here. Should you analyze the video from begin to end, you’ll witness every thing it is best to (and shouldn’t) do when you encounter a mountain lion — however extra on that later.
Picture courtesy Tennessee Wildlife Assets Company
Mountain lion assaults are comparatively uncommon. Like most wild animals (together with bears), the American lion is elusive, and prefers to keep away from human contact. However the American wilderness is house to tens of 1000’s of mountain lions throughout the west coast and Midwest. Unconfirmed sightings have been reported as far east as New York, and the wilderness all through contiguous United States qualifies as appropriate cougar habitat. Should you frequent the Rockies, or some other pacific or Midwest nationwide park or forest, there’s a likelihood you would encounter a lion. Right here’s how you can play it secure in mountain lion nation, and what to do when you run into one.
The way to Keep away from a Lion Encounter
Just like the video referenced above, many mountain lion encounters are the results of man and beast encountering one another unexpectedly — which often leads to the lion, caught unawares, appearing aggressively towards the offending particular person. Scale back the percentages of a shock run-in with a giant cat by following these steps.
Make some noise. Making frequent noise on the mountain climbing path and saying your presence to wildlife is one of the best ways to keep away from an encounter with elusive predators like mountain lions. These cats usually tend to keep away from a loud, unknown intruder than transfer nearer to research.
Journey with firm. A lone hiker or camper is way extra prone to encounter a mountain lion. These predators are opportunistic, and naturally really feel inclined to measurement up single, remoted creature as potential prey. Touring with a gaggle of individuals eliminates any likelihood of inadvertently presenting your self as straightforward prey to a stalking lion.
Follow marked trails. You’re extra prone to encounter a lion when you stray from trafficked mountain climbing trails and established campsites. The mountain lion’s pure sources of meals — deer, elk, and small critters – wish to avoid locations that individuals frequent, and lions are likely to comply with their prey. So, the additional away you keep from the prey’s habitats, the much less possible you might be to run right into a lion.
Separate meals from camp. Mountain lions primarily stalk and hunt prey animals. However juvenile lions, which are sometimes answerable for reported encounters, are extra opportunistic. They could really feel inclined to research the odor of meals — like the meat jerky or smoked venison you stuffed in your backpack. To keep away from encounters with any wildlife, it’s a good suggestion to maintain your foodstuffs far-off out of your campsite.
Keep away from lion cubs. The unlucky Utah hiker who handled a hissing lion was simply meters from the lion’s cub, which spurred the lion’s aggressive posturing. Lions sometimes beginning one to 4 cubs at a time, and their inhabitants development is accelerating. Lions with cubs are additionally prone to enhance their vary in the hunt for meals.
Which means you would run right into a pack of lions — an grownup with cubs. However this kind of encounter is assured to ask aggressive habits, and probably a defensive assault. Should you see lion cubs, instantly exit the world in the identical route you got here.
What To Do If You Encounter a Mountain Lion
Should you love the outside and you reside in lion nation, you’re certain to cross by means of the territory of a giant cat a few times. Likelihood encounters should not unusual. Lest you turn out to be the following hiker to seize some shaky mobile phone footage of an indignant cougar someplace in a canyon, comply with these steps throughout an encounter.
Don’t run. Operating into a big wild predator within the wilderness will immediately set off your fight-or-flight instincts. Observe the previous; don’t ever flip and run from a cougar. That is sure to set off the cat’s predator response — they virtually universally take prey by chasing and attacking from behind.
Look huge. Make your self look larger to the cat. Open your jacket, elevate your arms and unfold your legs, and face the lion always. You probably have trek poles or any objects helpful, wave them round — and be ready to make use of them to defend your self.
Make noise. Communicate loudly, and make as a lot noise as doable. There are many anecdotes of individuals scaring away mountain lions with loud music (Metallica, particularly) performed from a speaker or smartphone.
Preserve eye contact. You’ll have been informed that staring down an animal is taken into account a problem that might invite an assault — particularly with canines — however, on this case, sustaining eye contact with the lion is a greatest follow.
Stand your floor. If the lion challenges you by approaching from a distance, stand your floor. To the lion, solely prey animals retreat. Lions don’t acknowledge a standing human as a typical prey animal. Standing your floor reinforces this truth.
Throw objects and retreat. But when the distances closes to an uncomfortable diploma, it’s time to behave as a possible risk: Gradual rocks, sticks, and different close by objects within the cat’s route, and slowly stroll backward to place house between you and the cat.
If a Mountain Lion Assaults
Do every thing to struggle again. Grownup male lions weigh 135 to 175 kilos, whereas females weigh between 90 and 105 kilos. These are highly effective creatures with sharp claws and robust bites, however they aren’t insurmountable — and, when you’re attacked, there’s nothing higher to do than struggle again. Mountain lions often assault the pinnacle and neck; do your greatest to guard these areas by remaining upright and dealing with the cat through the assault. Use any weapon out there to you. A pointy crack to the cranium with a rock, or a blow to the physique with a pocket knife, might be sufficient to finish the assault.
Instantly Report All Sightings
Should you see a mountain lion close to any space frequented by individuals, instantly contact your native authorities. Should you’re close to a state park or forest, contact park officers or your state’s Division of Wildlife. If no contact info for rangers or DNR companies can be found, or when you see a lion close to an city space, contact the native sheriff’s workplace or police division — they’ll both reply straight, or contact the suitable wildlife service.
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