© 2016 -2021 Copyright by P. K. H. Groth, Denver, Colorado, USA All rights reserved -
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Mountain
lions
are
propagating
in
Colorado
and
are
becoming
a
nuisance
and
danger
to
game.
Colorado
Parks
and
Wildlife
decided
in
2017
to
cull
lions
and
bears
in
western
Colorado
because
they
are
excessively
predating game.
That
also
changes
things
and
begs
caution
for
hunter
safety.
Lions
have
rarely
been
seen
in
the
past
because
they
are
solitary,
elusive
animals,
which
normally
avoid
humans.
Their
increased
numbers
statistically
raise
the
possibility
that
unaware
hunters
may
bump
into
and
be
annoyed
by
cougars.
That
is
why
I
include
the
following
warnings
from
New
Mexico
Parks
and
Wildlife
and
the
US
Forest service [ I added some extensions].
Basic Knowledge:
1.
Attacks
are
extremely
rare
[commonly
when
humans
unknowingly mimic cougar prey]
2.
Cougars
are
most
active
at
dusk
and
dawn.
Avoid
recreating
then.
[Hunters
beware
when
traveling
to
and
from stands, or approaching your kill site.]
3.
Running
and
unleashed
dogs
can
trigger
an
attack.
[Cats
become incited to kill, and they like chasing easy prey].
4.
People
traveling
alone
are
more
vulnerable
than
groups.
[Single
people
normally
do
not
talk
to
themselves,
make
less movement noise and are more liable to surprise a lion.]
What to Do if You Encounter a Cougar:
A. Face a cougar and slowly back away if you see a lion.
B.
NEVER
run
or
play
dead.
[Running
incites
the
lions
kill
instinct].
C.
Immediately
pick
up
small
children
and
calm
them.
[Screaming
and
their
physical
agitation
may
evoke
a
cougar’s aggression instinct.]
D.
Look
for
and
leave
room
for
a
cougar
to
escape.
[A
cornered
cat
evokes
survival
reaction.
NEVER
approach
a
cat, which is an indication of challenge.]
E.
Make
noise,
lift
up
your
arms
to
make
yourself
look
larger, and shout loudly.
F.
If
a
cougar
attacks,
violently
fight
back
with
sticks,
stones,
backpacks
or
whatever
else
is
at
hand.
[Do
not
allow
the
lion
to
get
to
your
rear,
a
favorite-by-instinct
attack
and
kill
position for cats.]
Be Alert!
Do not approach dead animals – cougars linger near
and defend their prey. [If your kill has been pillaged,
and moved and covered with debris, it may have
been claimed by a cougar, which commonly linger by
the meat for several days. Bears do not generally
cover game meat, but may move it.]
Hike in groups, make enough noise to alert cougars,
and avoid surprise encounters.
Carry a stout walking stick and bear pepper spray if
lions are active in the area.
Keep pets leashed
NEVER allow children to run ahead or fall behind.
[Children should always WALK, not run. A child
running incites cougar curiosity and an instinctive
cougar reaction to chase.]
[Report overly curious lions to authorities. The lion
may be more aggressive and dangerous because of
old age, illness, poor teeth or wounds.]
Cougar tracks may appear like dog tracks to most
people. Below is a New Mexico Department of
Wildlife - US Forest Service comparison.
Lion Addenda:
1
.
L
o
o
k
at
lions,
but
do
not
stare
fixated
at
a
cougar.
This
is
body
language
for
asking
for
a
physical
confrontation,
just
as
it
would
be
with
two
humans
in
an
argument
who
intensely
stare
at
each
other.
A
provoked
big
cat
is
faster
runner
than
you will ever be.
Do
you
have
a
house
cat?
Be
a
naughty
boy
as
I
used
to
be.
Find
you
cat
when
it
is
resting
and
intensely
stare
at
it
without
moving.
Even
though
house
cats
have
been
domesticated
thousands
of
years,
it
will
probably
revert
to
defensive
instinct,
get
nervous
and
move
away
or
get
ornery.
2.
Loggers
in
India
rainforests
concentrate
on
their
search
to
find
and
fell
treed.
This
leaves
them
vulnerable
to
attacks
by
resident
tigers.
Authorities
recruited
an
animal
scientist
help
stop
the
attacks.
He
created
bright
yellow
shirts
with
large
eyes
painted
on
the
back.
The
shirt
eyes
slightly
shifting
as
loggers
moved
and
fooled
the
tigers.
The
Mountain Lion Danger
and Hunter Reactions