Park Ranger Walks Through What to Do If You See a Cougar

The County of Santa Clara, California recently shared a video giving hikers advice about what to do and what not to do if they see a cougar on the trail. The original viral video from Almaden Quicksilver County Park in Santa Clara County shows two large mountain lions staring at hikers in the middle of the trail. Santa Clara County Parks rangers then overlaid themselves having a discussion about the encounter.

[RELATED: ‘I Hate It When Cougars Hunt You’: Mountain Lion Stalks Hikers]

Ranger Jake gives the following advice: “You should be waving your arms around, looking big, looking aggressive, not running, not turning around, maintaining eye contact is a big one that people don’t know. But you’re hoping that they’re going to flee.”

At the point in the video when the cougars do turn around and start walking away from the hikers, Jake shares a big DON’T.

“But you don’t want to follow them, though!” he says. “[. . . ] Absolutely do not follow them like this.”

Watch a park ranger break down what hikers should and should not do if they see a cougar on trail below (or see it here).

Header stock image by Mark Newman/Getty Images

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