{"id":253,"date":"2009-04-18T08:59:51","date_gmt":"2009-04-18T15:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/?p=253"},"modified":"2023-03-03T16:43:54","modified_gmt":"2023-03-03T23:43:54","slug":"should-you-run-from-a-mountain-lion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northerncaliforniahikingtrails.com\/blog\/2009\/04\/18\/should-you-run-from-a-mountain-lion\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Run From a Mountain Lion?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Hikers
Mountain lion photo courtesy of Stephen Lea and Wikimedia Commons<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many hikers are justifiably concerned about encountering a mountain lion on or near the trail<\/a>. Accepted wisdom says you should stand your ground and appear threatening to the mountain lion.<\/p>\n

But a new study from UC Davis (Go Aggies!) researchers says you may be better off to turn tail and run like hell.<\/p>\n

Hiker – Mountain Lion Encounter: Traditional Advice<\/h2>\n

In the Introduction to 100 Classic Hikes: Northern California<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, <\/em>I say:<\/p>\n

You’ll probably never see a mountain lion; however, they are definitely around and they will see you. General safety guidelines include keeping children and pets close to you. Also be aware that lions are attracted to four-legged prey such as deer; when you bend over or squat, you look more like food to them. If you do see a mountain lion, first pick up any small children. Then shout and extend your arms in a threatening manner, and also throw rocks. In complete contrast to what you should do in a bear attack, you should fight for your life if attacked by a lion. Note that dogs can attract mountain lions, which is a consideration if you want to take your pooch with you. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is the traditional advice<\/a> accepted by many authorities.<\/p>\n

Should You Run From a Mountain Lion???<\/h2>\n

Well, those learned professors from UC Davis (got my bachelor’s and master’s degrees there) beg to differ. Here’s what the UC Davis researches say about mountain lion encounters<\/a> in a recent press release:<\/p>\n

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A new UC Davis study of 110 years of mountain-lion attacks on people suggests the conventional wisdom of standing your ground may not always be the right course.<\/p>\n

“Even though we found evidence that pumas will indeed chase, and capture, people who run, we also found that people who stand still are possibly more endangered,” said the study’s lead author, psychology professor Richard Coss, an expert on the evolution of predator-prey relationships.<\/p>\n

“Immobility may be interpreted by the mountain lion as a sign that you are vulnerable prey, either because you are unaware of its presence, or because you are disabled and not capable of escaping.”<\/p>\n

Thus, running might be the smartest move, Coss concluded, if you are in a situation that allows you to run in a surefooted fashion with even strides — for instance, on dry, flat ground rather than uneven, rocky terrain or deep snow.<\/p>\n

Most state and federal wildlife agencies advise against running. The California Department of Fish and Game says on its Web site, in part: “Do not run from a lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lion’s instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal.”<\/p>\n

Coss said the new study reviewed personal accounts, news reports and wildlife agency reports of attacks by pumas on 185 people in the U.S. and Canada from 1890 to 2000. His goal was to identify what kinds of activities people were doing during a mountain-lion attack and determine whether these activities predicted the severity of their injuries.<\/p>\n

“An understanding of how large cats select humans as prey and the situations that promote the greatest likelihood of attack is an important component of wildlife management,” he wrote.<\/p>\n

Coss’ co-authors are E. Lee Fitzhugh, a University of California Cooperative Extension specialist; Sabine Schmid-Holmes, a UC Davis postdoctoral researcher; Marc Kenyon, a UC Davis undergraduate researcher; and Kathy Etling, a wildlife specialist and author of the 2004 book “Cougar Attacks: Encounters of the Worst Kind.”<\/p>\n

The study, “The Effects of Human Age, Group Composition, and Behavior on the Likelihood of Being Injured by Attacking Pumas,” is published in the current issue (volume 22, issue 1) of the quarterly journal Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of the Interactions of People & Animals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Your Take on Running From a Mountain Lion or Standing Your Ground<\/h2>\n

What are your thoughts on this? Have you had an encounter with a mountain lion — what did you do? What do you think you will do in the future?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Personally, I’m sticking with what I said in the book. I’d rather face a potential foe and be ready to fight than be running and get dragged down from behind with little chance to defend myself.<\/p>\n

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Camp for Free in California National Forests<\/h4>\n

\"CampCalifornia’s national forests and BLM lands have thousands of miles of dirt roads with lots of spots for dispersed camping (boondocking).<\/strong> My book provides all the info you need to get started (but is not a guide to specific sites):<\/p>\n