[thingshappening]

I live in paradise but don't take advantage of it enough, mostly because I am scared of mountain lions.

I carry bear spray and a gun, therefore elk, bears, and other less clever predators do not worry me. But a friend told me a story (a true one) of being stalked by a mountain lion on his bike a few years back. The lion followed him all the way home; my friend literally had to walk backwards with his bike for a mile to keep the lion at bay.

I keep reading stories about lions attacking from behind, delivering a lethal blow to the neck. There is just nothing you can do about it; no chance of protection.

I surfed regularly when I lived near the ocean. Sharks didn't bother me a bit. I understand my fear is irrational, and it's keeping me from enjoying Boulder.

Any recommendations to help me get over this fear? I can't even enjoy myself out there. I'm constantly turning around, checking my 6 for lions.

[David762]

Originally Posted by thingshappening

I live in paradise but don't take advantage of it enough, mostly because I am scared of mountain lions.

I carry bear spray and a gun, therefore elk, bears, and other less clever predators do not worry me. But a friend told me a story (a true one) of being stalked by a mountain lion on his bike a few years back. The lion followed him all the way home; my friend literally had to walk backwards with his bike for a mile to keep the lion at bay.

I keep reading stories about lions attacking from behind, delivering a lethal blow to the neck. There is just nothing you can do about it; no chance of protection.

I surfed regularly when I lived near the ocean. Sharks didn't bother me a bit. I understand my fear is irrational, and it's keeping me from enjoying Boulder.

Any recommendations to help me get over this fear? I can't even enjoy myself out there. I'm constantly turning around, checking my 6 for lions.

Mountain lions strike from above & behind. They do primarily attack the shoulder and neck, with the intent upon either breaking the neck or crushing the throat causing suffocation. And yes, they do stalk their prey.

You could travel the trails with a buddy or two who are also armed. A slower, out of shape buddy might prove to be a greater attraction to that big cat, as well. Having some method of communication (cell phone, sat phone, CB handset) as well as GPS to identify location for rescue workers would be a good idea as well.

Your friend's previous encounter with a mountain lion would have to be rather unsettling. Maintaining situational awareness is a good survival tactic -- I highly recommend it. But I would also replace the perfume or after-shave cologne with grizzly bear piss, available in finer outdoor shops and on-line. Grizzlies are bigger and badder than mountain lions any day.

you could just forget the mountain lions and think about the fact that you have a better chance of getting hit by lightning .. or in boulder an SUV ...

[David762]

Originally Posted by greenmatter

you could just forget the mountain lions and think about the fact that you have a better chance of getting hit by lightning .. or in boulder an SUV ...

Thanks for reminding me -- time to check my Lotto numbers!

[HighDesertJoe]

Bears really scare me MT lions are a rare threat to man kind if you ask me. Now mad Squirrels now that's the real killer of the woods there beady little eyes. Good Luck

Originally Posted by David762

You could travel the trails with a buddy or two who are also armed. A slower, out of shape buddy might prove to be a greater attraction to that big cat, as well.

bring bait...

[medmaker420]

I would simply go hiking with people who are slower than yourself so that IF one does attack odds are it will get them and not you (heard this same method works great with bears as well as other big ass animals trying to destroy you). So to help you get over it, "bring a friend".

Seriously though, go in a group or at least a couple if it is that big of an issue for you. Fuck mountain lions, evil lil bastards for sure.

[medmaker420]

Originally Posted by HighDesertJoe

Bears really scare me MT lions are a rare threat to man kind if you ask me. Now mad Squirrels now that'[s the real killer of the woods there beady little eyes. Good Luck

agreed, too many stories of those damn bears mauling someone to death or worse off "almost to death" and they get to enjoy trying to tell the story later on it life.

[thingshappening]

Good advice so far. Although like I said bears will not be an issue for me, those bastards are ruthless.


I mean: at least mountain lions have the decency to attempt a decapitation/neck break, and failing that, a relatively quick suffication at the neck. Bears, the mean-spirited assholes, will generally start eating your genitals while you're still alive. They don't wait till your dead before they dig in, and they almost always go for the genitals first.

[ZZTops]

When the Hunter becomes the Hunted...