Hi all, thought I might post this since it's pertinent to what could happen in Estes Park/RMNP and also since there has been a lot of talk about wild animals in and around the town and park. And of course as we all know, there was a recent mountain lion attack in Boulder that could very well happen in the Estes Park area.
This was taken from the Rocky Mountain News, April 16, 2006:
• When walking in mountain lion country, go in groups and make plenty of noise to reduce your chances of surprising a lion. A sturdy walking stick can be used to ward off a lion. Make sure children are close to you at all times.
• Do not approach a lion, especially one that is feeding or with kittens. Most mountain lions will try to avoid confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
• Stay calm when you come upon a lion. Talk calmly yet firmly to it. Move slowly.
• Stop or back slowly, if you can do it safely. Face the lion and stand upright.
• Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you're wearing one. If you have small children with you, protect them by picking them up so they won't panic and run.
• If the lion behaves aggressively, throw stones, branches or whatever you can get your hands on without crouching down or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly.
• Fight back if a lion attacks you. People have fought back with rocks, sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools and their bare hands successfully.
• Lion attacks on people are rare, with fewer than a dozen fatalities in North America in more than 100 years. Most of the attacks were by young lions, perhaps forced out to hunt on their own and not yet living in established areas, according to the DOW. Young lions may key in on easy prey, like pets and small children.
Source: Colorado Division of Wildlife
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Mountain Lions Safet Tips
Started by
weatherbe
, Apr 21 2006 11:46 PM
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20 replies to this topic
#1
weatherbe
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Posted 21 April 2006 - 11:46 PM
#2
Midmccoy
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Posted 22 April 2006 - 10:11 AM
Thank you for that report Bee. I like to have that in my mind with having young children with us in the Park.
Amy
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#3
Weasel
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Posted 22 April 2006 - 10:15 AM
This is all mostly good, but the last point is a bit misleading. The fatality rate overall for the last 100 years is pretty low, but there was a pretty long 75+ year stretch with zero. Since 1991, the rate has been about 1 death per year.
Hiking between dusk and dawn is a particularly bad idea. Lions typically hunt during those hours, and visibility is greatly reduced (obviously). And of course, there probably aren't many people around at those hours to help if you're attacked.
Don't run on the trails. I don't think it's real common in RMNP, but many people head to parks to get exercise, and running is a great way to make a lion think you're prey.
Hiking between dusk and dawn is a particularly bad idea. Lions typically hunt during those hours, and visibility is greatly reduced (obviously). And of course, there probably aren't many people around at those hours to help if you're attacked.
Don't run on the trails. I don't think it's real common in RMNP, but many people head to parks to get exercise, and running is a great way to make a lion think you're prey.
#4
Marvman
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Posted 22 April 2006 - 11:20 AM
I'm glad that Mountain Lions aren't scavengers, that means I'm safe. As slow as I move in the backcountry, they'll think I'm already dead!
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#5
weatherbe
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Posted 22 April 2006 - 12:48 PM
Well you may have beaten one animal, but you are still a nice warm treat for buzzards who's specialty are dead marvmans ... 
Weather
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QUOTE (Marvman @ Apr 22 2006, 09:20 AM)
I'm glad that Mountain Lions aren't scavengers, that means I'm safe. As slow as I move in the backcountry, they'll think I'm already dead!
Marvman
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#6
Wan
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Posted 22 April 2006 - 10:08 PM
QUOTE (weatherbe @ Apr 21 2006, 11:46 PM)
• Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you're wearing one. If you have small children with you, protect them by picking them up so they won't panic and run.
While I get the part about kids not running, what the heck does one do if the kitty does decide to attack, and you have a kid in your arms? I have heard other sudgestions of putting kids on your shoulders to appear larger, however I think I would tuck them between my legs, genly squeezing to keep them there. Leaving me free for protection. While I hope it never comes to that, and I have only seen a Mountain Lion once scampering across the road.
FWIW.
#7
gwallaia
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Posted 04 May 2006 - 12:02 PM
The last time we were in RMNP, the Rangers were giving a program in the ampitheater about Bear and Cougar safety. They explained that if you encounter a bear, do not look it in the eye. If you come across a cougar, make eye contact and it will become confused. But in niether case turn and run.
I was afraid if I encountered a cougar or a bear I would be thinking to myself... Is it the bear you look in the eye or the cougar??? Nevermind!! I'm running away!!!
I was afraid if I encountered a cougar or a bear I would be thinking to myself... Is it the bear you look in the eye or the cougar??? Nevermind!! I'm running away!!!
#8
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Posted 04 May 2006 - 12:08 PM
QUOTE (gwallaia @ May 4 2006, 02:02 PM)
I was afraid if I encountered a cougar or a bear I would be thinking to myself... Is it the bear you look in the eye or the cougar??? Nevermind!! I'm running away!!!
Whatever you do, don't forget to turn the flash off on your camera...
Bear
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Posted 05 December 2007 - 11:07 PM
QUOTE (slowpoke @ May 4 2006, 03:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have had a lot of evperience working with mountain lions and black bears, I am a wildlife educator/handler and have worked for wild kingdom and animal planet. At this time I have two adult black bears that I interact with every day as well as a male cougar. These are not pets but I have handled them and done 100"s of school convocations in schools across the midwest. And I have been coming to RMNP for about 50 years. Neither one of these types of animals are dangerous unless you do not respect them and do not follow wildlife rules. As far as looking a bear in the eye, they cannot see very well and there keen senses are hearing and smell. If you have hiked anywhere in RMNP you have been close to a bear and did not know it. All a bear really cares about is food and romance. In the months of may and june the females are in heat and the males are all of a sudden very bold. When they walk they slide their front feet , which leaves a much larger track. And they make a clicking sound with their teeth. If you hear that sound it is a warning and keep walking until you no longer hear it. As far as making noise the bear knows where you are at and they have for a long time. Bears are as smart as the great apes they just do not have the facial expressions. Black bears are really big chickens and the only time that they really become agressive is of course if their kids are involved and she thinks that you are a danger to them. And then she will try to kill you if she feels that she has no choice. Bears can reason and are very good at solving problems usually using their amazing strength. The bear is hands down the smartest animal roaming the back country (including people). Mountain Lions are hunting machines but man is 99 percent of the time to big of a challenge. During the day they will find a vantage point where they can watch every thing around them. Here is a another instance that you probably have been observed by a cougar and it thought no way and slipped down the ridge behind it or stayed put and watched you for its own entertainment. You have a far better chance being struck by lighting or maimed by the family lawn mower than being attacked by a mtn. Lion. If for some reason you are ever actually attacked, the cougar has weak points..right in the side just behind his front legs a kick there will knock the breath out of him..and do not quit he has to think that you are some kind of crazed wild animal. They do not smell fear they feel it and if it thinks that you are a bad hombre it will get the heck out of there. Also its eyes and the bridge of its nose, a rock or flashlight will get its attentiion if you crack him on the nose as hard as you can. Screaming does not always help..actions speak louder than words. Also the groin if it is a male , but I do not suggest you take the time to sex it. I would be worried more about driving thru RMNP and the willd animals that are in cars than the fauna we all love. Oh by the way when I was a youngster we went to bear lake one evening to hike around it. We parked our car, there was hardly anyone there and as we were walking to where the lodge once was. A cougar ripped off a scream, my dad looked toward the trees and he asked me if had heard that and I said that I had and he said lets go back to the car.........
#10
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Posted 05 December 2007 - 11:23 PM
That is a great post! We're glad you are here!
#11
Allie
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Posted 06 December 2007 - 08:26 AM
Great information. Like John said, glad you are here. Do you have a website of the work you do? Would like to learn more about your job, and working with the animals.
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#12
Aaron
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Posted 06 December 2007 - 12:26 PM
Wow! Glad you're here lbattson!! 
I may bug you to be on the podcast sometime in the future.
--Aaron
I may bug you to be on the podcast sometime in the future.--Aaron
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Posted 06 December 2007 - 12:28 PM
Thanks for the animal report. Glad you posted it.
My son and I saw the aftermath of a lion attack about 10 years ago on the west side at east Inlet. The victim did everything the opposite of what you suggested--thus the victim status. You comment on being seen by the cat is exactly what I had in my siting this past summer. and it certainly explains her actions.
But HOW do I pick up rocks to throw without bending down to get them?? My arms aren't that long?????
Larry
My son and I saw the aftermath of a lion attack about 10 years ago on the west side at east Inlet. The victim did everything the opposite of what you suggested--thus the victim status. You comment on being seen by the cat is exactly what I had in my siting this past summer. and it certainly explains her actions.
But HOW do I pick up rocks to throw without bending down to get them?? My arms aren't that long?????
Larry
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Posted 06 December 2007 - 12:40 PM
QUOTE (Aaron @ Dec 6 2007, 03:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Wow! Glad you're here lbattson!! I may bug you to be on the podcast sometime in the future.
--Aaron
I may bug you to be on the podcast sometime in the future.--Aaron
Sure anytime..I love talking about my wild friends and RMNP
#15 Guest_lbattson_*
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Posted 06 December 2007 - 12:44 PM
QUOTE (Larry @ Dec 6 2007, 03:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks for the animal report. Glad you posted it.
My son and I saw the aftermath of a lion attack about 10 years ago on the west side at east Inlet. The victim did everything the opposite of what you suggested--thus the victim status. You comment on being seen by the cat is exactly what I had in my siting this past summer. and it certainly explains her actions.
But HOW do I pick up rocks to throw without bending down to get them?? My arms aren't that long?????
Larry
My son and I saw the aftermath of a lion attack about 10 years ago on the west side at east Inlet. The victim did everything the opposite of what you suggested--thus the victim status. You comment on being seen by the cat is exactly what I had in my siting this past summer. and it certainly explains her actions.
But HOW do I pick up rocks to throw without bending down to get them?? My arms aren't that long?????
Larry
My suggestion is if you ever have the feeling that you are being watched pick up a rock and put in your pocket , never ignore that feeling, animals do not.
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