I've seen four mountain lions in over the past 10 years, so I know there are plenty of them out there since there are probably dozens in the areas I frequent that I never see. One was seen from my vehicle as it crossed the road, but the others were on foot while hunting deer or elk. Knowing that they're out there in reasonably strong numbers I treat the subject seriously because it's one of only two animals capable of hunting and killing me no matter how remote the possibility. The black bear population is very dense in one of the areas I archery hunt in and gave me my biggest scare. I think the main differences between bears and cats from a psychological and practical aspect is that bears are often seen several seconds or minutes before an attack. With most lion attacks, there is little or no warning because if their sights are on you, they're already in predation mode and intent on making you their food. While I do hunt with a group, the nature of archery hunting often has each person going off in their own direction to hunt their own particular area, blind or stand. While someone would eventually be looking for me if I didn't show up at the vehicle or camp, it could be hours before help came. When I'm doing that mile long hike back to the vehicle, long after the sun has gone down, there's probably nothing that holds a larger place in the back of my mind than the possibility of being stalked by a cat. Having a great light really brings peace of mind along with the fact that I have the option of lethal force even if bound to fully defensive position.
Mountain lions and bears don't typically kill their pray very quickly, the lion because it can't, the bear because it doesn't have to. While I would hate to deal with the circumstance of being in the clutches either animal I have to suspect logically that my chances of surviving a mountain lion are much better if I have even a 3" or larger knife. A mountain lion can hold onto a human without much trouble, at which point it as to figure out how suffocate, bleed you out, out sever your spinal column from the back of the neck. They do this by focusing their attack on the head, neck and face region. Most cat attacks on human adults involve a prolonged struggle until somebody gets the upper hand, so to speak, plenty of time to reach for an well retained sharp instrument placed reasonably anywhere on your person. When alone, the knife is about the only weapon that's document-ably reliable for saving lives once a cat already has you in its clutches. In the four cases I looked into, the mountain lion released its victim the instant it was stabbed. Three of the mountain lions died shortly after, two stabbed in the chest, one in the neck. The forth which was stabbed in the haunches also "let go" and would have probably lived had wildlife management not killed it the next day, which was unfortunately necessary.
Some great quotes I pulled off of a couple resource sites:
"If you want to virtually eliminate any mountain lion danger to yourself, don't hike alone. All hiking fatalities in California have occurred to single hikers. However, recognizing that the danger is low, I continue to hike alone. Being human, and therefore suffering from the same fear of rare events as everyone else, for a while I carried a big stick, which at least made me feel better."
"The general advice to avoid being eaten by a mountain lion is to travel in groups. If you encounter a mountain lion by yourself or with your children, stop, make yourself look as big as possible, and pick up small children and put them on your shoulders to make you appear even larger. Aggressively defend your position. The idea is to deter their attack by making them think that it isn't going to be easy for them. Pick up a branch or a rock to help fight them if needed. They are just big kitty-cats, so you don't want to appear as smaller prey to them. In particular, running away makes them think you are prey, and will encourage an attack. Yell for help by screaming cougar! or something similarly specific rather than just help!"
Some other dos and don'ts
[FONT="]Record of mountain lion attacks in California[/FONT]
Relative outdoor dangers
So, while it is something to consciously consider the threat is obviously very low, even if you're hiking or biking by yourself. Still, any sensible person will take minimal precautions. Think of clipping at least a small knife to your person the same way that you'd think about buckling your seatbelt when once seated in your car. If one compact defense mechanism is good, the a second is even better, whether that's pepper spray, a hiking staff/trekking pole, or small firearm. They're all better than having nothing on you at all. I would hate to be one of the people who struggled to their deaths with nothing more than their fingernails.
When I'm outdoors working, hiking, biking or hunting I always carry the bare minimum of at least one small 3-4" knife, my cell phone, a head/face hood and way of quickly making fire. Out here in AZ, bees and rattlesnakes are magnitudes more likely of harming or killing me than cougars. I can pull the mesh/mosquito net out of my pocket and cover my entire head and neck with it in less than 5 seconds, should I encounter swarming bees. I've had to run from them twice now. The knife as well as instant fire are tools with multiple uses. Lastly, a
fully charged cell phone is indispensable in areas with coverage.
Lastly, I just wanted to share my closest lion encounter which took place in the Kaibab National Forest, north rim, one September, while archery hunting for deer. One morning I decided to hunt off of a forest road where I had seen a large Mule deer cross the previous evening. Large east and west running canyon fingers were to the north and south so I parked just off the road and hunted the northern side. After walking down about 300 yards I found a few nice openings that presented some open shot avenues which also looked inviting to deer, with several trails converging. I decided to still hunt from the ground so I found a nice shallow depression at the end of a log with 1 foot tall grass all around. My back was wide open and I sat facing the end of the downed tree since that the direction that was most likely to have deer walk into the frame. If they approached from behind, I'd have to remain still until the passed before drawing the bow. The elevation there is about 7800' and heavily wooded. After about 2 hours of sitting I heard a light footed twig snap from somewhere behind me. I thought to myself, 'this could be looking really good if it has antlers.' Sitting indian style, I slowly rotated my head all the way to the right to see nothing. I slowly rotated my head all the way back to the left with one eye leading when I saw a tan blob standing slightly behind me about 15-18 yards away. After a few seconds of brain adjustment, I realized it was a 100-125 lb mountain lion which was now walking again. It was quartering toward me but not looking at me. It continued walking until broadside to me at about 10-12 yards, still looking down the ravine. Turns out that it never even saw me even though it was almost looking through me when I first saw it. I already had an arrow knocked and as it slowly moved away from me I drew the bow and had it dead to rights at 16-18 yards quartering away. The only problem is that I didn't have an over the counter lion tag and therefore couldn't legally take the shot. Now, that wouldn't have stopped hunters that I know as they would have killed it and purchased tag after a quick run into town. Since I don't operate that way, it wasn't an option and I watched that beautiful animal walk down the hill. I had an old 1MP kodak camera back then, my first digital but by the time I remembered that I had it, it captured nothing more than a flash of fur in the image.
About 10 minutes later another hunter who had been in a tree stand farther to the south of me rattled down out of the tree and started walking up toward the road. I was still sitting on the ground and as he passed about 50 yards away I lifted my hand to wave. Turns out I had met the guy two nights earlier in his camp when I stopped to offer a cold one and to visit for a while. This guy's name was Jody and he was a good ole boy from Arkansas. In any case, he was about 30 feet! up in an aspen tree when the two doe he was watching suddenly go spooked. They started to maneuver and that's when Jody saw my "flash of tan" booking down the hill and leaping from a large downed tree toward the deer. The doe bolted in opposite directions and the lion grabbed a tuft of hair from the leg of one of the deer but couldn't catch it before it blasted through a stand of baby pine trees, knocking them over as it passed. Jody then drew his bow but apparently the lion saw this slight movement in it's peripheral vision and leaped straight into the air. When it came down it ran with huge leaping bounds and disappeared as quickly as it came. Never having seen a lion and not knowing anything about them he quickly decided that he didn't want to be out there with it and was headed back to camp. He excitedly shared his experience with me and I coaxed him into going back down the ravine to show me how his Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom scene unfolded. Anyhow, I feel pretty lucky to have been that close to one and then have the additional story from Jody to add to my experience.
With regards to hunting them, hunters are urged to purchase lion tags because we've had a declining mule deer situation here. Large cats normally kill one deer per week along with smaller game in between. We don't have a lion shortage.
