|   mountain lion fear | kurtdb1
Nov 25, 2003 4:21 PM | | Has anyone felt this way before:
I was riding a local trail recently, by myself...beautiful weather...perfect soil...my lungs were great...my legs kept cranking in a tougher gear than normal..a great ride..after 2 hours and 45 minutes of climbing, I started feeling fatigued (normal) but then I started thinking...what if I came across a hungry mountain lion at the top of this climb...after I'm tired, worn out, sore back, etc. I guess I had too much time to think (2 hours, 45 min). Then I started realizing ALL the little noises coming from the bushes (of course). Hell, what if I was in the mountains and came across a bear? There is NO WAY (with the exception of the downhill I climbed up) that I could out run (ride) either of those animals...should you turn around and try? or stand still lifting the bike over your head screaming? (of course all while exhausted) or should you just carry a .44 everytime you ride? (just kidding).I guess I will have to be the judge if and when the time comes, until then, I need to stop thinking so much and just ride! |
| zero worries | JimC.
Nov 25, 2003 4:32 PM | | mountain lions/cougars stalk their prey, you'll never "come across" one, it'll already have taken you down.
The stats show you're more likely to win the lottery.
Bears are different, read up on them, it's important to know what to do. Short version: face bear, ***slowly***** back away, look in it's direction with lowered eyes (eye contact is a threat to them) and did I say slowly back away?
Don't run. Go home, remove pants, do a wash.
Jim |
| rare, but not zero | club
Nov 25, 2003 4:41 PM | | I've never seen a mt lion on my CO rides, but several friends have. One reports having one keep up with her, from a ridgetop above the trail, for a mile or more, but it never moved down to her. She was freaking the whole time.
Another friend, a bowhunter, was tracking the elk he just shot, after dark, using a flashlight, and spotted one following along in his track. Same guy was attacked (!) by a coyote (!!) while flyfishing, and he literally beat it off with the butt end of his fly rod.
A lion jumped on a woman's back as she crouched along the bank of the Animas River some years back, she fought it off with, I forget, either a hemostat or forceps, she was a biologist.
Bear spray is designed to repel bears, but I carry it on every backcountry ride, and I'm betting a good shot in the eyes would also give a mt. lion pause to reconsider its actions.
Short of a .44, which ain't a bad idea, though a .357 should suffice for cougars, a can of bear spray in easy reach is prudent. |
| OK, effin near zero, | JimC.
Nov 26, 2003 9:10 AM | | jeez, as always, here's the one to worry about:
There are about 3 million car-related injuries a year, 2 million permanent injuries and 40,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. http://www.car-accidents.net/car-accidents-statistics.html
Cougar Attack Statistics:
From 1890 to this date 18 attacks involving human fatalities in the United States and Canada have resulted 19 deaths. http://www.frii.com/~mytymyk/lions/intro.htm
So while 18 died in Canada and the You Ess Eh via cougar, over 3 million died in car accidents. To me that's a zero.
Nuff said.
Jim |
| here kitty, kitty | race frehley
Nov 25, 2003 4:42 PM | | Jim's right, I've encountered way more bears than mt lions... now cougars on the other hand... well if you manage to get out of the bar before last call, you should be alright... I know bad joke, but someone had to make it. (This pic isn't mine. It's from the mtbr archives) |
| clarification | race frehley
Nov 25, 2003 4:53 PM | | When I said encountered, I should clarify - I've only encountered a mt lion on foot - never on a bike. I suspect that a bike is too noisy for their liking. |
| I'd be... | CulBaire
Nov 25, 2003 11:15 PM | | I'd be more scared of Trail Hippies more than Lions, although we dong get many lions round here, or bears...But apparently there is panthers around where I ride occasionally :-S
Anyways watchout for the Trail Hippies, they are sometimes mistaken for Bears and, or Yeties (sp), apparently they are harmless but have a really bad odour... :-P
-Cul |
| no reason to worry | Yeti_Rider
Nov 25, 2003 4:45 PM | | in CA, there's only been something like 11 deaths by kitty in the past 90 years or so (okay, I'm trying to remember the stats so don't quote me, but they're really really low occurrances). I'm sure I've been seen by the cat's many more times than I've seen them (never seen a big one, saw a bobcat once) but they're all over the place.
I'd be more worried about bear with young or moose, elk, etc. during mating season myself. Far more aggressive to people than mt. lions are.
Michael |
| you'd be lucky to see one... | belfrey
Nov 25, 2003 6:06 PM | | I just spent a year working as a biologist at an Audubon Sanctuary in Orange County, CA. Working all day long outdoors in prime cougar habitat, we saw their tracks and spoor ALL the time, but I was never lucky enough to see one F2F. Some of my coworkers did, when they were on the sanctuary at night, dawn, or dusk. They're very cautious and very nocturnal, so a grown adult riding in the daylight is essentially risk-free from cougar attack.
Keep your kids close, though, even during the day, and a friend of mine who was living on the sanctuary had one run past him and go after his dog when he was walking it at night (the big cat veered off the attack when my friend shouted at it). |
| little reason to worry | TruckeeLocal
Nov 25, 2003 6:11 PM | | Mountain lions hunt rabbits and mice and other little furry things. Big honking sweaty mountain bikers who have been climbing for 2-3 hours are worthless to them. And said bikers aren't thinking very much towards the end of the climb to worry about anything in my experience. I did meet a jogger one time who saw a lion - she'd turned from a jogger into an all out sprinter and was real happy to see me heading in the direction of the lion.
By the way there have been 0 deaths from black bears in CA. Doesn't stop folks from shooting them on sight though. Fear is a very strange emotion. |
| little reason to worry | Darrell
Nov 28, 2003 9:02 AM | | Out here in Central Nevada they prefer deer and antelope. I know they go after the occasional rabbit but I'm not too sure about mice. I've never seen a live one but have friends who have. They were crossing the highway at night. You don't really need to worry about a healthy lion. The worse case scenarios would be to surprise one after it's killed something (it'll be very protective of it's meal) or to come across one that is sick or injured and running out of options. I try to ride in packs and I carry a 357 magnum on solo rides in the canyons of the surrounding mountains. |
| you'd be lucky to see one... | belfrey
Nov 25, 2003 6:15 PM | | sorry, website software glitch |
| re: mountain lion fear | rjstoked
Nov 25, 2003 6:01 PM | | I had just recentlty listened to "talk of the nation" while riding on npr and the topic just happpened to be on the rise on the
mountian lion population. It seems some states are encouraging the reintroduction on the kittys. Being an adaptable and territorial creature, offsprings will search out new domains that range up to 250 miles if i remember correctly,and are now being reported all across the US. The guest expert did note that there is no evidence that making noise will scare it away. As noted above, if the cat was hunting you, you would be the last to know. And if you are one of of the lucky to spot one, it is only because the Cat is letting you. |
| re: mountain lion fear | fred-da-trog
Nov 25, 2003 6:08 PM | | Any self-respecting mountain lion knows not to attack a mountain biker after a hard climb. They have that "wild" taste |
| funny u mention mt. lions | RVM
Nov 26, 2003 2:55 AM | | On sunday, the park ranger warned me about a mtn. lion sighting on the trail by three hikers. It was getting dark too. I had lights w/me, but I decided to cut the ride short... |
| Haven't seen a Loin, but have had experience with Bears.. | Loose Screw
Nov 26, 2003 5:56 AM | | I've seen maybe a dozen adult Black Bears and while in alaska got close to 2 large brown bears, not on purpose mind you. Every bear that noticed me ran (including the Brown Bears) except one at a park dump and the one on the deck that needed a little encouragement (just outside of Marquette MI). I saw a book at the Library that listed deaths by bears in each state. I was actually suprised with all the hype about it that there weren't that many deaths. I've read that you don't want to make direct eye contact which is considered a threat but, also don't turn and run. I've tried it on dogs while riding and have had favorable resolts... |
| re: mountain lion fear | Kev-o
Nov 26, 2003 6:22 AM | | In the last month, I have spooked a Mt. Lion and a small bear on the trail. It was a little freaky, but cool. They both ran off like a scalded dog when I appeared though. So I woudln't worry too much. |
| Bears!! | ctxcrossx
Nov 26, 2003 7:28 AM | | "Hell, what if I was in the mountains and came across a bear? There is NO WAY (with the exception of the downhill I climbed up) that I could out run (ride) either of those animals...should you turn around and try? "
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I heard that bears have a top speed of 35 mph. In any event, even if you're going downhill, you won't outrun a bear. I'm not sure what to do if you are in that situation, but the bear might find it a fun challenge to catch you.
Chris |
| I keep bear bells on my seatpost... | Smytty
Nov 26, 2003 8:55 AM | | After an unpleasant encounter with a mama black bear and her 3 little ones. You can get them at just about any outdoor store - it's just a little nylon strap with 1-3 bells on them and attaches with velcro.
While I haven't seen any mountain lions (they don't really hand out in Ontario), I assume that like most wild animals, they'll beat it if they hear you coming. Hence the bear bells. They're also handy for warning people and dogs that you are coming. I've been riding with them for 3-4 years, so I don't even hear them jingling any more - I'm just used to them. |
| Saw a lion recently | Low_bias
Nov 26, 2003 9:18 AM | | Hi- I live in the hills north of Santa Barbara (yes- abot 15 miles from Michael Jackson). A few months ago I was mountain biking down a near-deserted paved road, looking for trails. I saw a little deer trail at the curve in front of me, and started riding toward it to check it out. About 30 feet away, a car (the only one I'd seen in a long time) came up behind me. It was dusk, so its headlights were one. The lights revealed the eyes of a small Mtn. Lion looking right at me from the bushes beside the trail. It was probably still 40 or 50 feet away though. It was a juvenile. Probably not more than 40 pounds, so I doubt it would attack. For the next mile or so, I kept up with that car (about 30-35 mph) anyway though :), just in case mommy was around. |
| re: mountain lion fear | jeffj
Nov 26, 2003 10:17 AM | | I have come across (actually spotted) a mountain lion while biking only once. It was near the trail I was riding on (by myself on the Los Robles Switchbacks in T.O.). I don't think he was expecting me since he bolted off through the brush with incredible speed and was gone in a matter seconds.
A few years ago, we had a mountain lion that was terrorizing the local dog population. It was spotted several times sprinting through neighborhoods with small to medium sized dogs clutched in it's jaws. It was finally cornered and destroyed in a backyard since it had no fear of hunting in the middle of a city of 150,000.
We had another big cat that was spotted several times on a hill overlooking a park in my neighborhood. It would just sit up there and look down on the small children playing in the sand box. It seemed to get the message when Animal Control started hanging around waiting for it.
I saw a mountain lion and her two cubs drinking water from the shores of Lake Cachuma (near low_bias in Santa Barbara County) while fishing from a boat one morning. They were neither bothered nor startled by our presence even though we were only about 100 feet away from them and so we all went about our business. I think I have a picture of them tucked away somewhere. That was one of my all-time favorite wildlife experiences.
Like others have expressed, I think there are other things more likely to hurt me than a mountain lion, but I don't ride with "steak medallions" hanging from my neck either. >8P I guess we are not very high on their list of "tasty critters".
It's funny though, what makes us feel secure and what makes us insecure. For me, having other people around makes me feel more secure, even if it's only my own kids. |
| Paging Pffft, post your Cougar story that you told me... | CraigH
Nov 26, 2003 10:28 AM | | in Downieville. |
| Couple of Cougar stories over on NSMB... | CraigH
Nov 26, 2003 10:32 AM | | http://www.nsmb.com/trail_tales/cougarangie_02_04.php
http://www.nsmb.com/trail_tales/cougar_05_01.php |
| you will never see a mt lion that is hunting you | blaine
Nov 26, 2003 11:26 AM | | a hunting mountain lion is invisible until it's on the back of our neck snapping your spinal cord and rendering you paralyze so it can eat you.
there is a better chance of you dying while driving to the trailhead than from being attacked by a big cat while riding.
even with that knowledge, i can't hep but wonder what those little snapping sounds are to my left and right behind the trees as i ride.
lucky for me, i live in los angeles and our blatant abuse of wild land and home buiding in the mountains has sadly reduced the risk of cat attacks. a tragic convenience really. |
| Slightly OT, But I think humans must taste like crap.... | BBOC
Nov 26, 2003 11:40 AM | | It seems like animal attacks usually end up in maulings rather than an outright kill and eat. We must really taste bad, although you organic granola eating folks might make a tastier treat for the predators out there.
Bill |
| Tell you wut... | Finch Platte.
Nov 26, 2003 6:09 PM | | ...if one of them things pulls me down and drags me off the trail, it's gonna have to put up with some rather stinky drawers.
fp |
| I've run into lions and bears.... | Jaybo
Nov 26, 2003 11:52 AM | | on Sunday afternoon on Fox. Kidding. I have seen mountain lions and black bears on my rides. I would not want to bump into a bear on the trail up close, especially a mother with cubs, but otherwise they run from me. I have heard of lions attacking people in the San Diego area but that has not be my experience. They are beautiful animals. If they attack, just give them catnip. It relax's them.
Jaybo |
| I "ran" into one once, and it ran like hell... | msylvan
Nov 26, 2003 1:16 PM | | ...then again I was neither alone nor tired. I wouldn't have liked any alone time with the animal. For the short time I saw it, it looked pretty big. I have also seen coyotes on rides.
The only things that have ever attacked me on a ride are bees, dogs, and the guys I ride with ;). |
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