Big Bend National Park is a place in Far West Texas known as one the best places in North America for stargazing. Big Bend has the least light pollution of any other National Park in lower 48 states. Its dark skies can be attributed to the sparse human occupation in Texas’s high desert region.
While humans may be few and far between around Big Bend, its home to a diversity of animal species including 75 different mammals. These mammals range in size from the tiny Western Pipistrelle Bat (0.2 ounces) to a large Black Bears (250 pounds). Big Bend is also mountain lion country. 150 lion sightings are reported by visitors to Big Bend National Park every year and there have been several mountain lion attacks in the park since 1984.
Thankfully for these hikers on Big Bend’s Pinnacles Trail, the mountain lion they encountered was entirely focused on a deer it was stalking. The hikers were aware they weren’t the focus of this lions hunt but remained vigilant as it stared down the deer before pouncing off into the bush in pursuit.
At least one of the hikers did the right thing in this situation by maintaining eye contact with the mountain lion throughout the encounter. You can here him refuse to “come stand us” as he was “not taking his eye off this guy.” In addition to not looking away, the hikers did not run which can trigger a chase response in mountain lion. Learn more about how to safely deal with mountain encounters below.
Big Bend National Park Mountain Lion Safety:
In the event that you encounter an aggressive mountain lion:
- Do not run. A mountain lion’s attack instincts are triggered by running.
- Keep children close, do not let them run ahead while hiking.
- Maintain eye contact, and never turn away from the lion.
- Stand up straight, with arms above your head in order to appear larger.
- Back away very slowly in case the lion is guarding a kill or her den.
- If the lion approaches, throw rocks or sticks and yell at the animal.
- If the lion does attack, fight back.