What to do if you meet up with a mountain lion

[209]

I ran across an article from Santa Fe regarding the recent sighting of one.

http://www.ammoland.com/

The Department of Game and Fish is advising residents of a neighborhood near downtown Santa Fe to be on the lookout for a large mountain lion that has been sighted and may be living in a residential area.


The Dept of Fish&Game say the following:

Here are some ways to protect yourself, your family and wildlife from unwanted encounters with mountain lions and other large predators:

    * Do not feed wildlife. Use native plants in landscaping, not non-natives, so as to not attract deer, which are the primary prey of lions. Remember, predators follow prey.
    * Do not let your pets roam around outside. Bring them in at night. If you keep pets outside, provide a kennel with a secure top. Do not feed pets outside where the food can attract lions or other smaller animals which lions prey upon. Store and dispose of all garbage securely.
    * Closely supervise children. Make sure they are home before dusk and not outside before dawn. Make lots of noise if you come or go during times when mountain lions are most active — dusk to dawn. Teach your children about lions and what they should do if they encounter one.
    * Landscape or remove vegetation to eliminate hiding cover for lions, especially around areas where children play. Make it difficult for a lion to approach unseen.
    * Install outdoor lighting, especially in areas where you walk, so you can see a lion if one were present.
    * Close off open spaces below porches or decks.
    * Place all livestock in enclosed sheds or barns at night. Close the doors to all outbuildings so that an inquisitive lion is prevented from going inside to look around.

Mountain lion encounters and attacks are extremely rare, but if you do encounter a lion in the wild or in town, you should:

    * Stop or back away slowly if you can do so safely.
    * Stay calm when you come upon a lion talk calmly yet firmly to it and move slowly.
      Immediately pick up all children off the ground and tell them to stay calm.
      Do not run from a lion as fleeing behavior may trigger the instinct of the lion to attack.
      Face the lion — do not turn your back — remain in an upright position and look as large as possible (raise your arms, open up your coat, if you’re wearing one).
    * Carry a walking stick and use it to defend yourself by keeping it between you and the lion. If the lion approaches closer or behaves aggressively, arm yourself with the stick, throw rocks or sticks at the lion, and speak louder and more firmly to the lion. Convince the lion you are dominant and a danger to it.
    * Fight back if a lion attacks you. Use any possible object within reach as a weapon, such as rocks, sticks, jackets, a backpack or your bare hands. Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back. Stay standing and if you fall down try to get back up on your feet.

So... a walking stick is better than a 30-30... or a .308 or 30.06? 

I would have expected that from the DEP in CT or one of the departments in a few of my neighboring states but I thought a Western state would have a different take on things.

[Perd Hapley]

Is this New Mexico Fish & Game? 

[209]

Is this New Mexico Fish & Game? 

Article says yes. 

[Harold Tuttle]

http://www.theginblog.com/2007/09/10-mountain-lion-warning-signs-that-you-will-never-see-at-yosemite-national-park/

[280plus]

I'm surprised bend over and kiss your @$$ goodbye is not an option...

[AJ Dual]

Question: Are there any Census workers nearby?

[Doggy Daddy]

Question: Are there any Census workers nearby?

Well, just a moment ago they were in the thread below this one...   

DD

[Jim147]

If a stick was my only option it would be made of walnut and blue steel.

I was out for some late night bank fishing for catfish. I don't think I'll ever forget that blood curdling scream that broke the silence that night. If I hadn't of watched all those wildlife shows I might of thought it was a bigfoot. I stoked up the fire and and the shotgun.

jim

[charby]

I would invite them over for drinks.

[AmbulanceDriver]

I would invite them over for drinks.

Mountain Lion.  Not Cougar.....

[Stand_watie]

I pooped my pants a little bit laughing at this one

[AJ Dual]

Mountain Lion.  Not Cougar.....

No.. "Mountain Lion" is just a "Rural Cougar". She has a ranch and likes guns 4-wheeling and stuff.

[coppertales]

If it is a cougar, no amount of money could fix a body that old.  If a mountain lion, always, I mean always carry a gun with you.  My camp in the east TX woods is a place where you need to be armed at all times....chris3

[Silver Bullet]

I pooped my pants a little bit laughing at this one

Excellent !  That should deter an attack !

[Tallpine]

I hear that Sante Fe is just an eastern suburb of L.A. these days ...   

[Harold Tuttle]

[gunsmith]

LOL!! those were great

[charby]

No.. "Mountain Lion" is just a "Rural Cougar". She has a ranch and likes guns 4-wheeling and stuff.

Ha Ha

Actually, I was thinking it would be pretty cool to have a mountain lion relaxing in the Lazy-Boy sipping on some bourbon and listening to jazz.