This trail runner had quite an intense encounter with a mountain lion at the Happy Camp Canyon Regional Park in Moorpark, California.
It’s not exactly known how many mountain lions live in California but the more accurate estimates put the population somewhere around 4,500. They’re solitary and elusive animals, usually only seen in groups when kittens are still living alongside their mother. Attacks on humans are very rare with only 6 known fatal attacks on humans in California since 1890. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is typically quick to remove mountain lions that’ve been declared a public safety threat, yet dangerous encounters are still possible.
The trail runner in this clip was run down by a mountain lion about 12 miles into his 18 mile run. The man managed to startle the large predator away with a quick swipe right before it pounced, leading to a 30 second face to face encounter before the cat eventually backed off. For another 5 minutes, the runner and the animal stood about 10 feet apart while the man shouted at it to back away.
Recreating in mountain lion territory should be done in groups and with caution at dawn and dusk. Keep children close and within sight at all times. If you do encounter a mountain lion, stay calm and stand your ground. Don’t crouch, bend over, approach the animal, or run away. Pick up children without bending down or turning away and make eye contact while doing all that you can to appear intimidating. Read more on safety during a mountain lion encounter below.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife 10 Ways To Stay Safe In Mountain Lion Habitat:
1. When it comes to personal safety, always be aware of your surroundings, wherever you are; conduct yourself and attend to children and dependents accordingly.
2. If you encounter a cougar, make yourself appear larger, more aggressive. Open your jacket, raise your arms, and throw stones, branches, etc., without turning away. Wave raised arms slowly, and speak slowly, firmly, loudly to disrupt and discourage predatory behavior
3. Never run past or from a cougar. This may trigger their instinct to chase. Make eye contact. Stand your ground. Pick up small children without, if possible, turning away or bending over.
4. Never bend over or crouch down. Doing so causes humans to resemble four-legged prey animals. Crouching down or bending over also makes the neck and back of the head vulnerable.
5. Try to remain standing to protect head and neck and, if attacked, fight back with whatever is at hand (without turning your back)—people have used rocks, jackets, garden tools, tree branches, and even bare hands to turn away cougars.
6. Don’t approach a cougar. Most cougars want to avoid humans. Give a cougar the time and space to steer clear of you.
7. Supervise children, especially outdoors between dusk and dawn. Educate them about cougars and other wildlife they might encounter.
8. Always hike, backpack, and camp in wild areas with a companion.
9. Don’t feed wildlife. Don’t leave food outside. Both may attract cougars by attracting their natural prey.
10. Keep pets secure. Roaming pets are easy prey for cougars.