Video doorbells are great for a lot of purposes. They prevent crime, allow you to check up on your house while your away, make it easier to tell solicitors to find another house, and, from time to time, prevent you from walking outside into a pack of five mountain lions.I’d definitely rather see a bear or a couple of moose in my backyard than multiple mountain lions, but I won’t hesitate to stare in awe at a video like this when it comes around.
Shared with CBS Colorado by Carolyn Andrews, this clip comes out of Silverthorne, just north of Keystone Resort. If you’re planning to stay in that area any time soon, or really anywhere known to have big cats, make sure to brush up on your wildlife safety. You wouldn’t want to see you, your friends, or (defiantly the worst option) your dog get attacked by this pack.
If you encounter a mountain lion, Colorado Parks and Wildlife encourages you to do the following:
- “Do not approach a lion, especially one that is feeding or with kittens. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
- Stay calm when you come upon a lion. Talk calmly and firmly to it. Move slowly.
- Stop or back away slowly, if you can do it safely. Running may stimulate a lion’s instinct to chase and attack. Face the lion and stand upright.
- Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you’re wearing one. If you have small children with you, protect them by picking them up so they won’t panic and run.
- If the lion behaves aggressively, throw stones, branches or whatever you can get your hands on without crouching down or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly. What you want to do is convince the lion you are not prey and that you may in fact be a danger to the lion.
- Fight back if a lion attacks you. Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back. People have fought back with rocks, sticks, caps or jackets, garden tools and their bare hands successfully. Remain standing or try to get back up!”
Image credit: CBS Colorado via YouTube