Hiker Brian McKinney captured this tense footage of a mountain lion encounter along the High Sierra Trail in California’s Sequoia National Park.
Brian was about 8 miles from Crescent Meadow along the High Sierra Trail when his hiking partner Sam Vonderheide spotted the animal. At first Brian didn’t believe him, but he still whipped out the camera just in case.
As they rounded a corner, they spotted the animal staring at them from up a slope. There they questioned what to do, staying put before eventually deciding to slowly back away.
California is estimated to have a statewide mountain lion population between 3,200 and 4,500, but there’s been less than 50 verified cougar attacks on humans in California since 1850. Still, understanding how to behave in the case of a cougar encounter is necessary to staying safe while recreating in their habitat.
If you do encounter a cougar, you should stay calm and continue to face the animal while making yourself look bigger. Keep pets leashed and children close, and avoid bending over or making yourself appear smaller. Read more on mountain lion encounters 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.