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64 – Facing Danger of Mountain Lions!
The Website For The Smart and Savvy Traveler
Do NOT hike alone!
Make plenty of noise to reduce your chances of surprising a lion.
Go in groups, with adults supervising children. A sturdy walking stick is a good idea: you can use it to ward off a lion.
Keep children close to you. Observations of captured lions reveal that the animals seem especially drawn to children.
Keep children within your sight at all times.
Do not run from a lion. Back away from it slowly, but only if you can do so safely. Running may stimulate a lion's instinct to chase and attack!
Face the lion and stand upright. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up so that they won't panic and run. Although it may seem awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the lion.
Do not bend or crouch over; do all you can to appear larger!
A person squatting or bending over looks a lot like a four-legged prey animal. Raise your arms! Open your jacket, if you're wearing one. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can grab without crouching down or turning your back.
Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a large voice!
Do not approach a lion, especially one that is feeding or with kittens. Most mountain lions will try to avoid confrontation!
Give the mountain lions a way to escape!
Fight back if attacked! Try to stay on your feet if a mountain lion attacks you!
Lions have been driven off by prey that fights back! Some hikers have fought back successfully with sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools, and their bare hands!
Since lions usually try to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the attacking animal!
Notify the nearest park official, or other agency with the exact location and the details of the encounter
Avoid the low-light hours of dawn and dusk where mountain lion encounters are more common.
Keep pets secure on a leash and don't feed them outside.
Educate children about the wildlife they might encounter!
Hike, backpack, and camp in wild areas with a companion(s).
Hiking or Trekking alone is an invitation for trouble, not just from mountain lions but other wildlife present there as well! Always hike with companion(s).