Interesting Mountain Lion Info...

[gray]

I just got this email at work and thought I would share. Pretty interesting...

Jim Lowery passes on info from a workshop on mountain lion biology, taught by tracking pioneer Jim Halfpenny who among other knowledge has the largest database about cougar-human interactions, resulting from more than 500 interviews. Here are a couple of highlights.

Cougars and dogs. In Boulder, CO, where mountain lions have been seen fairly often in recent years, it was discovered that among all of the interactions between cougars and people with dogs (for example, people jogging or walking with their dogs on local trails), the cougar was dominant over the dog in 67% of the cases, while the dog was dominant in only 11%. And, in 48% of the cases, the dog was killed! For those people who think that bringing their dog along will protect them, Jim reminds us that jogging with a dog in mountain lion habitat “is basically baiting the cougar.”

Deterrent behavior. Students often ask us whether you should avoid making eye contact with a mountain lion, and the answer is, you should make eye contact. It does not escalate an encounter by doing so, and like standing tall, raising a jacket up above your shoulders to make yourself look larger, and making noise, it lets the cat know what you are. Of course pick children up off the ground and hold them when you encounter a cougar. What has not deterred a cougar: foghorns or playing dead. In the latter, there have been instances in which a mountain lion has simply dragged off a person playing dead. A cougar may growl, moan or hiss without actually attacking. Make sure you stand tall and do not run, which may trigger an automatic chase response. The likelihood of a cougar attack increases with how fast you move.

Mountain lion range. In the East and Midwest, there have been increased sightings of cougars in recent years. Many “sightings” have been housecats, bobcats or dogs though. For the most accurate information, go to www. cougarnet.org, a website that shows specific evidence for verified sightings east of the Rockies. At the site, click on the “big picture” map and go to “confirmations.” By the way, I was surprised to discover that there are an estimated 12,000 pet cougars in the U.S., many of them illegally kept.

[dstepper]

Maybe the dog would loose a battle but I would how many times dogs have warned people of the presence of a cat. I would rather have a dog with me than not. Better yet would be a couple of dogs.

Dean

[remgeo]

When we lived in Boulder, my dog and I came across a Mountain Lion one day and he seemed to have no interest in us. I'm sure he was nice and full or my 80 lb. lab and I might have been in trouble.

Boulder is one of the only places that allows dogs to run without leashes on a majority of the trials so no wonder the study was done there.

[Happy_Gilmore]

Saw a Big Bobcat prowling the neighborhood houses just before the top at SS DH yesterday afternoon, it was likely hunting small domesticated animals. It would be quite the surprise to open your front door and be staring down cat of that size.

[Lovin]

Whenever I ride through Whiting and I see people with dogs, I always tell them they're "walking bait".

[Lambda_drive]

Cougars and dogs. In Boulder, CO, where mountain lions have been seen fairly often in recent years, it was discovered that among all of the interactions between cougars and people with dogs (for example, people jogging or walking with their dogs on local trails), the cougar was dominant over the dog in 67% of the cases, while the dog was dominant in only 11%. And, in 48% of the cases, the dog was killed! For those people who think that bringing their dog along will protect them, Jim reminds us that jogging with a dog in mountain lion habitat “is basically baiting the cougar.”

You have to wonder about what kinds of dogs people bring with them. I doubt a Yorkshire terrier or a wiener dog is going to do much to a cougar.

[Lovin]

You have to wonder about what kinds of dogs people bring with them. I doubt a Yorkshire terrier or a wiener dog is going to do much to a cougar.

Hardly any domesticated dog will do much to a wild cougar.

[Abui]

Interesting stats but there's no mention of human deaths when accompanied by a dog whereas there are deaths when someone has no dog. Mark Reynolds might be alive if had had a dog with him.

[Lovin]

Interesting stats but there's no mention of human deaths when accompanied by a dog whereas there are deaths when someone has no dog. Mark Reynolds might be alive if had had a dog with him.

He might be alive if another, slower, human was with him.

[UR2KLOS]

I know you aren't supposed to try to outrun a lion. However, if you are on a bike going downhill should you stop if you see one or pedal like hell or maybe just slowly roll away?

[Revalimage]

Whenever I ride through Whiting and I see people with dogs, I always tell them they're "walking bait".

Or a $200 ticket...

[Rockinthecasbah]

the 48% or whatever dog number doesnt account for the size of dog either, how many of those are small dogs picked out of backyards and how many of them are great danes

[mpmffitz]

You think it helps to having the no fear eyes on the back of the helmet like it might scare the lion away.

[Lizardterd]

After seeing this vid on youtube I realized that no dog...not even my pitt bulls could rumble with a cougar..

[Rockinthecasbah]

It depends on the attitude of the cat, some cats can be tree'd by beagles some will fight anything. Cats arent creatures that needlessly kill, so if theres abundant prey and you arent a threat you shouldn't be worried. If there is a deer die off and a drought get worried. I have seen more then a few cats in the wild and worked with a few captive mt lions, most the time they dotn want to be anywhere near you.

[UR2KLOS]

Cats arent creatures that needlessly kill.

Cool, they're more civilized than humans.

[Fewinhibitions]

No, just programed better.

[Fewinhibitions]

No, just programed better in that regard.