But honestly, we have cougar here in the SM mountains. A mated pair
who have just had a littler (they're closely tracked). There have been
sightings on our trails and I've been told that one would never attack a
horse. Particularly one with a human on it. Just too much trouble as
they're used to smaller prey....
So I ride quite comfortably in spite of the sightings. Should I be
more careful? We have single tracks here.....with lots of bushes and good
cover, as it happens.
Kathy
> Anyone have any ideas for riding in the dark in areas with
cougar > activity. My husband is gone all week and it's just me and
the > critters. I am surrounded by National Forest and BLM...closest
neighbor > one way is 1.5 miles...the other way 15 miles....and there are
only 5 > houses on the eight mile road I live on. I live in the middle
of > consensus...which is great most times, but we have lots of cougar and
I > am feel a little like bait out there at dusk and dawn on my
horses. > Can't wait for that solstice! Thanks for any insight.
The
main thing I would add to this discussion is to try to avoid riding in brushy
areas where the cougars have lots of cover. Cougars are
stealthy predators. They are not good sprinters, and don't depend on
running up on their prey. They will stalk their prey, and they like to
have hiding places and good cover from which to spring. They like
methodical creatures like walkers or joggers, that are a good prey size for
them and also behave in a manner that is easy to predict and follow.
(Think of a barnyard cat watching a mouse.) They think horses are
tasty, but are also intimidated by height--so a rider mounted on a horse is
far less of a target than a horse by itself. Also, a rider traveling at
a trot is going at a speed that a cougar is not apt to follow--whereas a foal
meandering along a track from the pasture to the creek is going at a perfect
speed for a cougar to get.
If you are riding along open roads at a
good clip, I wouldn't be too concerned about cougars.
Heidi (also in
cougar country, but have never given it much thought when I'm
horseback...)
