Mountain Lion
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Subfamily: Felinae
Genus: Puma
Species: Puma
concolor
MOUNTAIN LION safety tips

  • Do not hike alone, go in groups with adults supervising children. When hiking, appropriate clothing for rough terrain will aid in
    movement and evasion.
  • If confronted by a mountain lion, do not run; that might stimulate its instinct to chase, and they can quickly outrun any person.
    Instead, stand and face the animal, but do not make eye contact (experts suggest looking at the feet).
  • Don't "play dead." Cougars are likely to eat a human who plays dead.
  • Pick up young children without bending or turning from the lion (if possible).
  • Do everything possible to appear larger or intimidating, including raising arms wildly, opening up jacket, and throwing stones and
    branches.
  • Do not crouch down or bend over; this may create the appearance of prey..
  • Fight back if attacked. Mountain Lions have been repelled with rocks, knives, firearms, sticks, garden tools, kicks, and bare hands.
  • Install motion-sensitive outdoor lighting.
  • Keep pets from roaming and never feed pets outside. Be wary when leaving pets outside, particularly at dawn and dusk.
  • Do not climb a tree, as lions can climb better than humans.
  • Jogging, running, and biking on wildland trails can be particularly hazardous since such runners are likely to be less attentive to the
    surroundings and the motion can trigger a "chase and kill" reflex in the animal. Talk to local authorities or park rangers to see if it is
    advisable before taking such a risk.


Nov. 17, 2006: Mountain lion shot by police downtown in the city of San Luis Obispo. Young
female, apparently got lost after wandering down from surrounding mountains.

Nov. 7, 2006: Mountain lion spotted in Cambria near Shamel Park.

Oct. 30, 2006: Mountain lion startles jogger on the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve in Cambria.
RECENT ENCOUNTERS
More than half of California is mountain lion habitat. Mountain lions generally exist wherever deer are
found.
More than half of California is mountain lion habitat.  There are an estimated 4,000 to 6,000
mountain lions in California. Their primary food is deer, but they hunt prey in a range of
sizes, from insects, mice and rabbits, to domestic cats and dogs.
They are secretive cats who usually avoid people, and attacks on humans are extremely
rare. Attacks on humans are rare, but do occur, especially as humans encroach on
wildlands and impact the availability of the mountain lion's traditional prey.
California, which has the highest population density of areas with a significant cougar
habitat, has historically  had 15 attacks and 6 fatalities.
By comparison, about 40 people die in the US each year of bee stings; humans are far
more likely to get struck by lightning or die from a black widow spider bite.
Mountain lions cannot be hunted in California except under very specific circumstances.
This, as well as the extermination in California of the wolf and brown bear, has allowed the
cougar to increase its numbers. California law requires that wild animals who have
attacked a human must be killed if they can be located. Those that prey on pets or livestock
can be killed by a property owner after the required depredation permit is secured. Moving
problem mountain lions is not an option. It causes deadly conflicts with other mountain
lions already there. Or the relocated mountain lion returns.


The mountain lion can run as quickly as 40 mph, jump 20 ft from a standing position, and
vertically leap 8 ft.  One mountain lion was observed jumping 12 ft up into a tree while still
holding a deer in its jaws.

For more information.
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