The USA mountain lion inhabitants is estimated to be between 20,000 and 40,000 lions, virtually all of which stay within the western United States (Florida is house to the solely breeding inhabitants east of the Mississippi River). However they’re very secretive animals, and the odds of recognizing one of their pure habitat are fairly low.
Whereas mountain lions are usually essentially the most lively throughout daybreak and nightfall, they’re lively all through each the day and night time and recognizing one at any time of day is solely possible. This backcountry skier, for instance, one way or the other managed to identify this slightly properly camouflaged cougar preserving a eager eye on him from a close-by tree.
Mountain lion assaults are very uncommon, with solely 29 deadly instances recorded since 1868. Most assaults will occur throughout the day in an space of human recreation, although they’re usually extra widespread in the summertime and fall than within the winter. In any mountain lion encounter, individuals are finest off leaving loads of area between them and the animal and doing all that they’ll to seem as giant as doable. Working isn’t beneficial. Learn extra about mountain lion security beneath:
- Don’t jog or hike alone. Go in teams with adults supervising kids.
- Preserve kids near you. Don’t permit kids to play alongside river banks, in heavy vegetation, or alone at daybreak or nightfall. When mountain climbing with kids, watch them intently and by no means allow them to run forward of you. Observations of captured wild mountain lions reveal that the animals appear particularly drawn to kids.
In case you encounter a lion, bear in mind the targets are to persuade it that you’re not prey and that you could be be harmful. Observe these security suggestions:
- Don’t strategy a lion. Most mountain lions will attempt to keep away from a confrontation. Give them a option to escape.
- Don’t run from a lion. Working might stimulate a mountain lion’s intuition to chase. As an alternative, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. When you’ve got babies with you, choose them up if doable in order that they don’t panic and run. Though it could be awkward, choose them up with out bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.
- Don’t crouch down or bend over. A human standing up is simply not the appropriate form for a lion’s prey. Conversely, an individual squatting or bending over resembles a four-legged prey animal. In mountain lion nation, keep away from squatting, crouching or bending over, even when choosing up kids.
- Do all you’ll be able to to seem bigger. Increase your arms. Open your jacket if you’re sporting one. Once more, choose up babies. Throw stones, branches, or no matter you’ll be able to attain with out crouching or turning your again. Wave your arms slowly and communicate firmly in a loud voice. The thought is to persuade the mountain lion that you’re not prey and that you could be be a hazard to it.
- Struggle again if attacked. A hiker in southern California used a rock to fend off a mountain lion that was attacking his son. Others have fought again efficiently with sticks, caps, jackets, backyard instruments and their naked arms. Since a mountain lion normally tries to chew the pinnacle or neck, attempt to stay standing and face the attacking animal.
Associated
