You’re going hiking/camping in the woods and you run into this creature. What would you do?

Question

This thing looks ripped. 😅 What about you?

libsaretards · Accepted Answer

This is a mountain lion, also known as a cougar, puma, etc. I have encountered a few of them in my life and EVERY interaction was peaceful. They want an easy meal, not one that would put up a fight.

To answer the question, I carry bear spray with me when I go hiking. If I come across this creature, I will make myself look as big as possible and be as loud as possible. Most of the time that is enough to make them realize the fight is not worth it and they leave. That has been the case in ALL my encounters with mountain lions. The one that pressed his luck I sprayed a little bear spray into the air, but did not hit him. He hated the smell and bolted. Had he actually attacked, he would have been sprayed. Big cats have sensitive eyes and noses and the spray will make them back off and give you a chance to escape.

The WORST things you can do with mountain lions are run, turn your back, bend/crouch down or climb a tree. You will not outrun them. Turning your back makes you vulnerable. Bending down to get a stick makes you look small and easy to attack. Climbing a tree gives the mountain lion a natural advantage. Best thing you can do with a mountain lion is appear to be too big/strong to be prey. If they do attack, give them a hell of a fight and most of the time they will back off. If not, you're pretty much screwed.

bigpauly · Accepted Answer

What in the world? Has that thing been working out with the Rock? I guess I’d try to hide behind a tree or something 😓😓

RosieMelts · Accepted Answer

If it charges me, shoot a flare at it like from the mountain between us, with Kate Winslet and Idris Elba. 🤔😃👍 Jk I love Pumas, but def would have to assess their behavior

Jennz6 · Accepted Answer

Absolutely, run, run…run

NathanDavis · Answer

I still remember the steps, since we once lived at an area where these (not so big though) wonderful creatures could be...

-stop, and stay calm

-back up slowly... facing the little kitten

- do not get on their way, don't bend over, don't lower yourself, don't challenge, don't freak out

-if they come towards you, it is time to yell and shout and make yourself look bigger and stupid like a freak, not like their prey looks like or behaves, lol

-if they're not impressed and still come at you, then you have to start throwing stuff at them

-and if they still get you then just fight back in any way you can while you pray and hope they don't take your neck and tear it apart

DJB72 · Answer

A mountain lion is going to be more likely to run from you than attack.

Move away slowly. No sudden moves. Pick up a stick, the bigger the better, in case it charges you. Jab, don't slash. If it's coming after you it's because it's a female and you've got into range of its cubs. It won't risk leaving them so you just need to get what it considers a minimum safe distance for them.

If you were facing down a tiger or an African lion instead of this one then make your peace with God. You're in serious shit.

Bmories99 · Answer

I know I have seen this photo before. I don't remember if it was decided to be real or not. However with beats and with pumas or moutain lions. Making yourself large and making loud noises help. Bear spray helps. Camping one of the weird things that I have done is to keep a bottle of urine and splash the trees around the campsite. This causes the animals to either stay away or to remark the territory which is noisy and allows for scaring the critter away. With pumas and bears never face away and at night if you have a bright flash light keep moving it across there face the don't like it and it blinds them temporarily. I have run into many bears and pumas in my camping and hiking almost all have been peaceful only one ended in the death of the animal which was necessary as it was stalking on a child.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Always wear a jacket that unzips on hikes. If you come across a mountain lion or a bear, grab the waste of your jacket and pull it up over your head, making yourself appear larger. Stand still and yell as loud as you can. Most animals will run away. If they don’t, better have bear spray! Ell oh ell! Whatever you do, DO NOT turn your back on it or run. Both behaviors trigger predatory instincts and you all but guarantee an attack.

dustybiker · Answer

I was on a fire trail on my bike a few months back and saw an enormous fresh pile of mountain lion 💩 on the narrow road.

I suppose I would have been in trouble if it saw me. Rev my engine and blast my horn would be my only defense. I wouldn’t have been able to outride it in the canyon.

I was sweating the ten min connection between twisty main roads.. at dusk too. 😅

ObscuredBeyond · Answer

Ideally, not enter areas where it might be unless I'm carrying a flamethrower. I'd stare right at it, with the test flame confirming the thing works, and state: "your move, kitty!". If it charges, I get to sing"Disco Inferno" in a raspy maniac voice.

Other critters will soon understand to leave me alone.

Ill_made_Knight · Answer

Do NOt turn your back... you're kinda screwed if it decides you are prey, but it's a good example of why nice long walking sticks sometimes come in handy... you keep the stick in front of you and pointed towards it... never ever swing... the point would be to poke it in the face, and only if it approaches you.

genericname85 · Answer

that's a freaking mountain lion. i'd spread my arms to look big, scream and run at it to get it to trigger it's flight reflex. cause it's a feline and a bit skittish by nature. but realisticly speaking, i know i'm most likely gonna die. it's just a desparate last attempt that will likely fail.

ChiTown33 · Answer

I don't think anyone knows till they're in that situation. I'd like to think I'd probably back away slowly hoping it didn't notice me. It most likely would. And the I'd probably get real noisy and hope that scared it away. And hope it's not hungry. Lol

AimeeKyle · Answer

I would pull out my firearm, face the animal, make (continue to make) some noise and slowly backpedal.
If everything goes well, we will separate and go about our separate ways…. If not and it charges towards me, I would empty my magazine into it and swap mags in case more is needed.

TrillXHippy · Answer

I’ve seen a video about a guy in Utah that was going on a hike and he encountered one of those. I don’t know what I would call it but it definitely wasn't running. Very scary so I don’t know what I would do

ohsheeT · Answer

I would be more afraid of something else than that even though that would scare the crap out of me have you ever listened to the 411 people lost in the forest it's amazing it's weird it's scary

AviatorTom · Answer

I would first of all, freeze and see what the mountain lion is going to do, then I would slowly walk backwards away from it, hoping that it doesn't attack me. If it does attack, I would do my best to defend myself.

FriendlyDrugDealer · Answer

All by myself? No car, no weapon, no people to help me? I’d just say something like “well… I had a good life, time to see what the other side looks like!”

Supermomof3 · Answer

I wouldn’t run because it would surely enjoy me as a mid day snack! I think I’d be as still as possible and pray

Chrysantenum95 · Answer

Will go hiking later. Seeing this question makes me think to bring some stuff for this kind of scenarios. 🤔😂

Googlemyahoo · Answer

If I was hiking in an area known to have mountain lions or bears I would be sufficiently armed as I prefer to not get eaten. Usually they would flee long before you saw them if not they don’t have fear of humans which means you fight or die.

Still-alive · Answer

Unsheathe claws. lets dance rawrrr or if he/she wants to cuddle or something im game too lol

HighValue · Answer

Pet it. Feed it. Take it home as my new pet. :)  If it was hostile I'd have to put it down. I wouldn't go hiking without a gun.

Zolly99999 · Answer

Get ready for a fight... because by the time you see that it's game on...

Majjidkhan · Answer

Im a frustrated virgin and i watch MILF porn im pretty musch sure that I can handle a cougar attack 😂😂😂

Sour-rose · Answer

"This time, ya big sister is coming, my baby bro. (talking about my dog)"

shortster · Answer

Look for a weapon, try not to act like a prey animal and slowly back away. If i find a couple of rocks whiz one past its head and keep the other one in case it starts to charge.

Fuentes · Answer

Well if i ever go hiking or hunting I would take all products like green chlorophyll to kill my smell. So I would hope if I took off slowly that thing won't follow me so often can eventually take off running lol and never go back.

TallAnon · Answer

Climb the tree and if it comes aftet me, I'll use anything I can get my hands on to make some kind of spear, poking at the eyes or having it charge me and impale itself (grounding in the floor at a 45 degree angle)

Agape93 · Answer

Shoot it, I can make some decent money off it's pelt

Andres77 · Answer

Draw my.45 with my right and pepper spray or air horn with my left and wait for him to run.

Havthrills · Answer

Stop and watch it for a little bit. They usually just keep going as long as you don't piss it off. If needed, make a lot of noise.

Staximus · Answer

Aim my shotgun at him and yell loudly to give him a chance to fuck off before I send him to hell. That bastard could kill and drag a 200 pound man up into a tree.

KrakenAttackin · Answer

I would draw my.357 magnum and pull the hammer back. If this dude charged at me I would drill him with a round.

beebella · Answer

Probably stop and watch and just wait for it to go away. 😂

pizzalovershouse · Answer

I would remain calm an walk backwards slowly an if it tried to attack kick in jaw an keep kicking its jaw till it ran off

HaveNoName · Answer

I would immediately approach a big bag of those Temptation treats.

Fromdusktilldawn · Answer

If its a cat, dont turn your back to it. Walk backwards

nawtee_me · Answer

Mountain lion or also called cougar. Do not run, make lots of noise and hope it isn’t hungry

blondfrog · Answer

I'd fight it derka derka derka. Just kidding I'd run.

MrTaboo · Answer

Never turn you back. Don't look away. Draw my postal and shoot it

dolemite89 · Answer

tell myself it’s been a good ride and run like hell til it catches me 😂

userxvi · Answer

throw my girlfriend at it to distract him and buy me time to escape!

magiusX26 · Answer

find a way to handle the situation

melanieeeB · Answer

Hope we might become friends haha

JosyJosy · Answer

Back away, while facing it.

BlueScorpio · Answer

Kitty! Oh wait.. run 🏃‍♂️

RavVid · Answer

Nice kitty. Nice kitty.

DarkWinterNights · Answer

I’m a simple man. I see a cat. I pet the cat.

Wise4myage · Answer

I hope my.357 is loaded, lol.

nona776 · Answer

If I'm camping, I'll use fire to scare him.

LavLavLuv · Answer

Hop hop hop awayyy🐇🐇

Iron_Man · Answer

Pet it on the head

Pterodon · Answer

Draw my weapon or bear spray

Guardian45 · Answer

First fire a warning shot. Second shot to kill.

BLP11520 · Answer

Hopefully I have a gun on me

bubblegunnn · Answer

Freeze 🥶

OnTheLevel · Answer

I'd draw my firearm.

jimmy2 · Answer

Throw it some food

You’re going hiking/camping in the woods and you run into this creature. What would you do?

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