Tense footage out of Southern California of a woman who encountered an adult mountain lion while hiking a cliffside trail inside Los Padres National Forest.
Courtney Rasura was hiking on the Gridley Trail, a popular hiking trail in Ojai, when she glanced up from her phone and spotted the big cat approaching her. With her phone already in hand, Rasura began recording the encounter as the mountain lion walked towards her.
Rasura is an experienced hiker and knew that running could trigger a chase response so she stood her ground, maintained eye contact and shouted at the mountain lion until it left the trail.
Recent estimates indicate that California has a statewide mountain lion population between 3,200 and 4,500 individuals and although their numbers are healthy, attacks are rare.
“Since 1890, there have been less than 50 verified mountain lion attacks on humans in California, including six fatal incidents.” -California Department of Fish & Wildlife
Despite the rarity of attacks, anyone traveling in mountain lion country should be acquainted with proper safety protocols should they encounter one. Learn more about mountain lion safety below.
California Mountain Lion Encounter Safety Guidelines:
Mountain lions typically pose little threat to humans, and generally avoid any human interaction. A person is one thousand times more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a mountain lion. People who live in mountain lion habitat can take precautions to reduce their risk of encountering a mountain lion.
- Do NOT hike, bike, or jog at dawn, dusk, or at night. Avoid hiking, biking, or jogging alone.
- Deer-proof your property to avoid attracting a lion’s main food source.
- Remove dense vegetation from around the home to reduce hiding spaces.
- Install outdoor lighting to make it difficult for mountain lions to approach unseen.
- Secure livestock and outdoor large pets in sturdy, covered shelters at night.
If You Encounter a Mountain Lion
- Stay alert on trails. Keep pets leashed and walk with small children, don’t let them run ahead.
- Never approach a mountain lion. Give them an escape route.
- DO NOT RUN. Stay calm. Do not turn your back.
- Face the animal, make loud noise and try to look bigger. If with small children, put them on your shoulders.
- Do not crouch down or bend over.