When Encountering a Mountain Lion Out in the Wild, THIS is What You Shouldn’t Do…

mountain lion

Nobody wants to run into a mountain lion when camping out in the woods, especially if you have pets or small children with you that can be perceived as a snack. In order to keep yourself safe, follow the simple steps below.

Preventing Problems with Mountain Lions
Hike with a friend. Attacks are less likely in a group.
Don't let small children wander off the trail unattended. Keep kids in the middle or front of your group to prevent a cougar ambush from the rear.
Dogs can attract or invite cougar attacks. Leave them at home.

Surviving Close Encounters
Do not run away. This may trigger an attack.
Never turn your back to a lion.
Maintain constant eye contact.
Make loud noises, yell, wave your arms.
Make yourself look bigger with your clothing or other objects.

What To Do If Attacked
Do not play dead.
Protect your neck and try to remain standing.
Fight back using your hands, legs, or anything else that could be used as a weapon.
Using pepper spray may stop an attack.

Mountain lions rarely attack for any other reason than food, so to help keep yourself off the menu, making yourself look as big as possible is certainly the best way to go.

Many attacks are carried out against small children due to the fact that they are already perceived as prey, a fact compounded by the nature of children to run away, triggering the chase instinct. Help keep your kids safe by teaching them to never wander off and to fight back rather than run away.

Hopefully, nobody will need to make use of this advice, but you should log it in the back of your mind, just in case. For more lessons, head to Backcountry Attitude.


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132 Comments

  5. Jeff Lewis said:

    Kill one skin it where it and they’ll think your one of them

    Reply
  8. Kevin Moore said:

    We encounter them frequently at work in Az. Intense moments follow. Lots of them in the Southwest.

    Reply
  10. Rick Siebert said:

    I don’t want to “check out the helpful list on the next page”. Just freaking put it on one page!

    Reply
  14. Fred Eckler said:

    I would freeze look at him /her square in the eyes … and mental prepaid next move … Wether it be a pistol ..a stick long one if possible .. my knife ..a rock … loud noise … use stick point it straight st him if he attacks .. bury one end in the ground .. and stay low … the attack can help you with impaled self affliction…

    Reply
  17. D.L. Bryson said:

    Rule 1. Pull 44/45 cal from hip and shoot square between the eye’s

    Reply
  20. Joe Fox said:

    I carry a bag of catnip and say “whose my kitty”.

    Reply
  28. Adam Pettus said:

    Id knife fight a cougar, sure… But the stinging of those cougar wounds has GOT to suck.

    Reply
  29. Anonymous said:

    I ran into one last summer out by Diablo lake, it was dark, I had just finished peeing in a bottle since I had heard noises and assumed large animals were around. As I washed my hands I heard something walking by the edge of the water and then saw two eyes staring at me suddenly stop moving when I made I contact. I grabbed my gun and aimed it then yelled “I see you cougar!” I yelled and yelled but no other campers replied. So I grabbed a stick and started beating the side of the fire grate and yelling at the top of my lungs. The eyes slowly walked back into the dark. I stood there terrified for what felt like an eternity then gun cocked loaded and aimed I gathered what I could grab and walked quickly but cautiously to my car where I spent the rest of the night trying to calm down

    Reply

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