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[RC] Advice on Mountain Lions - k s swigartSo, will these things attack a horse and rider? Generally, no; and if one does, you probably won't see it coming.? Mountain lions are stealth hunters.? Almost all reported mountain lion attacks are on unaccompanied children. ? Is there something that you should or shouldn't ?do when seeing one??? Generally, the one thing you shouldn't do is run away as that makes you look more like prey; and besides which, they attack from behind, so turning your back to it is less than prudent. A HUGE mountain lion weighs as much as 200 pounds, most of them are more in the 100 pounds or so range.? You and your horse weigh upwards of 1000.?? Personally, on the few occasions when I have seen them they have run away from me...usually before I even have the chance to chase them.? But if it doesn't, I will run after it.? I have never seen a mountain lion that was aware of me (I have watched them from the next ridge over) for more than a nano-second.? Mostly, they take one look at me, and scarper. The thing that I am carful of when I am riding in mountain lion country is to be aware of whether one might drop out of a tree or from a rock outcropping...at dusk (which is when they are most actively hunting). I often ride in mountain lion country (and am used to seeing their tracks around the few springs that I have frequented).? Over the last 20 years I have actually seen a mountain lion five times.? But my general rule of thumb about mountain lion sightings is, if I see one, chase it. kat Orange County, Calif. :) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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