Experts Share What To Do When A Mountain Lion Starts To Follow You

Hopefully, this is not an issue that most of us will encounter. However, if you are someone who enjoys hiking in the great outdoors, then encounters with wildlife are to be expected. The best thing you can do is be properly prepared for such encounters. Luckily, experts have chimed in to share their opinions on how to be prepared. Here is what they had to say about what to do when a mountain lion starts to follow you.

Two Cyclists Are Approached By A Mountain Lion

Imagine this: you are on a peaceful hike or bicycle ride, enjoying the serenity of nature. Then suddenly, an apex predator appears in your path. Rather than being deterred by your presence — as most wildlife is — this predator decides to begin following you for several minutes.

Is it a terrifying thing to imagine, right? Well, according to AZ Animals, it was a reality for two cyclists on a Southern California trail. The pair were just enjoying their bike ride when a mountain lion appeared in their path. Rather than fleeing, the creature decided to stalk them for several minutes.

Fortunately, the cyclists and the mountain lion all left the encounter unharmed. The duo got off their bikes and kept their bikes between them and the animal. Then, they proceeded to back away slowly and give the creature ample room — the right move.

After the encounter, experts decided to chime in on the encounter. As well as all the right and wrong things to do when a mountain lion decides to follow you.

What To Do When A Mountain Lion Decides To Follow You

In order to get the best answers, AZ Animals spoke with Peter Tira, Information Officer at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. During that conversation, Tira informed the outlet of the exact steps a person should take if a mountain lion were to follow them.

First, we can all breathe a sigh of relief as the expert explained that encountering a mountain lion is rare. “Mountain lions for the most part, live solitary, elusive lives and do their utmost to avoid people and any interaction with human beings,” he explained.

However, he did argue that a younger, less experienced mountain lion is more likely to take chances and approach people. If you are one of the people who happen to stumble across a mountain lion, Tira urges you not to follow your instinct and run. I know, everything in you will be telling you to put as much space between yourself and this predator, but he states that is the worst thing you could do.

“That’s how their prey behaves,” he explains. The last thing you want to do is convince the mountain lion you are prey. Additionally, he hits you with the hard truth: “And there is no way, of course, to outrun a mountain lion that chooses to attack.” So not only would you be ringing the dinner bell, but you would be admitting defeat before you even started.

Instead, you want to not only convince the mountain lion that you are not prey, but that it should not attack you either. Tira shares the following tips on how to do those things. Here is what you should do if a mountain lion ever decides to follow you.

• Give the animal plenty of room to escape — never approach it
• Stay calm and do not turn your back on the animal — never run
• Make yourself look bigger and more threatening
• Slowly back away from the animal while making noise (i.e., shout, talk loudly)
• If attacked: “fight back with all of your might and with anything you have at your disposal to defend yourself.”

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