What if I am attacked by a Mountain Lion?

It is humbling to live around animals that are bigger, faster, and wilder than us. Mountain lion attacks on people are very rare. From dogs to bees, lightening strikes to snakes, there are many more things in the natural world that are of greater danger. To put it in perspective, one astronomer calculated that we are more likely to be injured or die from a meteor hitting the earth than a mountain lion. And, of course, cars are more dangerous than all-of-the above put together. Having said that, education is always a good way to stay out of harms way. Should you encounter a mountain lion, your most likely experience is to see it disappear quietly and quickly. The most appropriate response to this type of encounter is to feel blessed for the rarity of the sighting.

If the lion does not disappear or behaves aggressively:
Do not run or panic. Be calm, stand tall, hold out arms, and face the lion making eye contact. If in a group, gather together. Let it know you are human, speak confidently in a loud voice or yell. Throw things at the lion and vigorously fight back in the rare chance you are attacked.

copyright Steven Harper all rights reserved