Mountain Lion Attacks: How to Protect Your Pets and Yourself

It's extremely rare to see a mountain lion in the wild. They are cunning, elusive and silent predators. Even though you may not see a cougar hiding in the distance; he likely has seen you and is watching intently. Big cats will prey on pets and a dog that's allowed to run ahead of you on a trail may return with a mountain lion right behind him. Everyone should know what to do if confronted by a predator, like a cougar, whether you're a pet owner or not. If you live or play in cougar country; there's always a chance pets and mountain lions could meet eye to eye.

It's rare for a cougar to attack a person and there's been few fatal attacks on people over the last 100 years. Mountain lions are solitary animals that would rather not have contact with us if at all possible, but as more of their habitat is taken over by people living in and hiking through areas where mountain lions live; sightings of the big cat are on the rise.

Cougars prefer secluded areas where there's plenty of cover and abundant game, mainly deer and elk. In the absence of larger prey; they turn to wild pigs, frogs, rabbits, raccoons, bats, rodents and even grasshoppers. The big cats use their superior hearing and vision to quietly stalk their prey; leaping on them from behind in a surprise attack. A lion weighs between eighty up to two hundred pounds and can easily take down large prey. Mountain lions hunt during the day and night, but are most active at sunrise and sunset.

When hiking in lion country; it's safer to go in groups of two or more. Jogging or biking along trails in cougar country is not recommended, but people still do it. Cats focus on movement and dogs or people running/biking can activate the mountain lion's prey drive. When that happens; the cat attacks. If you see this predator on or near the trail, immediately stop walking, biking or running. Back up slowly and carefully so you don't fall down. Keep your eyes on the cat so he is aware you have seen him and you're ready to fight if necessary, but you should avoid direct eye contact. You want the cat to see you as a threat and not as prey. Do whatever you can to make yourself look bigger and show the cat you are a force to be reckoned with to intimidate him. Keep your voice calm and talk loudly to the cat. Never crouch down or turn your back towards the cat. Pick up small children and small dogs to keep them from running and keep a larger dog on a leash. If the cat attacks; throw rocks, sticks or anything else you can find. Throw dirt or small rocks in his eyes. A hefty walking stick is a good weapon to have against a mountain lion. Use the stick to punch it in the stomach or side. If you fall down; get up as fast as you can and never play dead. That tactic may work for a bear, but it won't work with a cougar. If you have a bike; it's a good barrier to keep between you and the cat.

If a cougar is crouched down and it looks like he's stalking you; that's exactly what he has on his mind. Be prepared to fight. A lion that's hiding, creeping forward in a crouch and moving within 50 yards or less to you is showing you an aggressive move and indicates he's ready to attack.

A curious mountain lion will follow you and not try to hide. You can tell he's just watching because he will keep his distance and usually change his position to get a better view. He will not crouch down. Even if he appears curious about the adult/s in the group, small children and pets are still in danger. Keep kids and pets close to you and keep your eyes on the cat. Continue to slowly move away from him.

Protect your yard with outdoor lights and use them at night so you can see if any cougars are in the yard before you go outside. Get small children inside before dark and make sure they understand they should not go outside in the early morning hours if they get up before you do. Children should be taught what to do if they encounter a mountain lion just in case there's no adult around. They need to remember to never run and to try and remain calm. Avoid keeping brush or wood piles around the yard and bushes or other vegetation should be removed or clipped close to the ground to take away hiding places cougars can hide behind. Garden plants and flower beds draw in deer and other wildlife and if you live in cougar country; a cat is likely to follow his prey into your yard. It's best to keep pets inside the house or in a kennel during the night with a secured cover on top. Don't leave uneaten pet food outside that can attract other wildlife, like raccoons, that could be on a mountain lion's menu. Keep garbage cans secured to keep coons and other animals from dumping it. Cougars are curious creatures and will wander into opened doors to sheds, barns and garages just to see what's inside. Keep all doors closed to outside buildings.

Like the wolf and coyote; mountain lions are an important predator in ecosystems and plays a role in controlling a fragile balance in their environment. We continue to push these predators into smaller areas as we take more and more of the lands they inhabit. As more encounters between mountain lions, pets and people take place; we react by hunting the predator down and killing it. When we lose predators in an ecosystem; an overpopulation of deer, elk and other wildlife, including plant life, is left out of balance and their long term health is put in jeopardy. All plants and animals in an environment suffer in the absence of predators and in the long run; we do too.

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