What do you do if you get attacked by this predator? It's important to protect your neck and fight for your life. Carrying pepper spray and using it during an attack may also give you enough time to get away and run for your life. Just make sure the mountain lion isn't following you blindly!
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.
It's true that mountain lions rarely attack other than if they're hungry, so to keep yourself off of their menu, make yourself look as big as possible. If you have a sweater quickly take it off and spread it out while waving it around over your head.
If you have children with you, tell them never to run away. The last thing you want to do is trigger the chase instinct in a mountain lion. Keep your kids safe by instructing them never to wander off and fight rather than run away from the creature.
Hopefully, you won't ever have to use this advice, but you should keep it in the back of your mind just in case. For more on how to fend off a mountain lion, check out Backcountry Attitude.
Featured Image via wplynn/ Flickr // Nathan Rupert/Flickr
Sick of life any way
Wait… how the hell am I supposed to get a selfie with these things if I follow these rules?!
It’s even more simple that that. All animals will telegraph before an attack. When receiving a cablegram from anything armed with tremendous strength, razor sharp claws and powerful jaws full of jagged teeth, it is time to practice the Three S’s. Shoot, Shovel, and Shut up.
Dan Heino You mean you go ANYWHERE without a handgun?!? I don’t.
Man up and go all Bigfoot on that$#%&!@*
i dont even think my house cat is harmless…..that$#%&!@*literally claws me in my sleep and it’s became a bit of a problem.
You must be like Bruce Willis level die hard if a mountain lion seems harmless. Im going hiking with you.
I’m going to tame it. Good big kitty.
“Mountain lions may seem harmless” said no one ever.
Bob Hostetter. Be careful
Mountain lions will stalk you and wait until you are vulnerable. They are no where near “harmless” .
Linda Lou….I have no doubts there are big cats around here ….places like this is where ya watch for them
Certain animals come with certain precautions. If you can’t figure it out then it’s time to thin the herd
They are beautiful but I would not one in my neighborhood!!
Not harmless…when I lived in Colorado, many young kids were killed hiking with their parents…they all ran ahead…so sad..
Why the hell would you put a break in an article? This isn’t tv. Seeing those words on that page annoyed me so much I’m unfollowing.
I didn’t read it, but I’m thinking pull it’s tail.