Mountain lion: do not approach it, and give it a clear way to leave. Do not run. Running can make it chase you like prey.
Camp and wildlife · Camp and wildlife course
Mountain lions and moose
Mountain lions and moose need opposite responses. A mountain lion is a hunter, so you look big and fight back, and you never rungame trail A narrow path worn through grass or brush by animals using it over and over. A trap goes on a trail an animal already uses.. A moose is not hunting you, it wants you gone, so running away and hiding behind a tree is exactly right.
Why this matters
Mountain lion attacks are very rare, but they hunt by ambush and target what looks small or weak. Moose injure more people than bears in some places because people walk too close to them.
The two animals need opposite actions, so it matters to know the difference before you are face to face.
What you need
- Nothing but knowledge. A walking stick helps you look bigger and fend off an attack.
- Keep children within sight and close to adults on trails where lions live.
Five minutes to learn.
Step by step
Face it and make eye contact. Make yourself look big: raise your arms, open your jacket, and speak firmly in a loud voice. Keep children close and pick up small ones without bending over or turning your back.
Do not crouch or bend down. A crouching person looks like a smaller animal. If you throw rocks or sticks, do it without stooping or turning away.
If a mountain lion attacks, fight back with anything you have: rocks, sticks, a jacket, your hands. Stay on your feet and protect your head and neck.
Moose: they look calm but can be dangerous, especially cows with calves and bulls in fall. Stay at least 25 yards away, and much farther from a mother and calf.
Warning signs: ears laid back, hair on its hump raised, licking its lips, or stamping. If you see them, back away now.
If a moose charges, run, and get behind something solid like a big tree or a car. Moose usually do not chase far.
If a moose knocks you down, curl into a ball, protect your head with your arms and stay still. Do not fight back. Move only after it has backed well away, or it may attack again.
Tips from survival instructors
- Hike in groups and keep children in the middle of the group, never running ahead, in mountain lion country.
- A moose with its ears back and hair raised on its hump is warning you. Back away right away.
Common mistakes
- Running from a mountain lion. The fix: stand tall, face it and look big.
- Crouching to grab a child or a rock. The fix: lift children without bending over or turning your back.
- Walking up to a moose for a photo. The fix: stay at least 25 yards away and use a zoom.
- Fighting a moose that knocked you down. The fix: curl up and stay still until it leavesdebris Dry leaves, pine needles, grass and ferns. Piled deep they trap still air, which is what keeps you warm..
Practice it safely
With your family, act out a lion encounter: stand tall, open jackets, speak loudly, and pick up a small child without bending. Then act out a moose charge: run to the nearest big tree and get behind it.
Quick check
What do you do if a mountain lion attacks?
- Play dead
- Fight back and stay on your feet
- Run downhill
Show the answer
Fight back and stay on your feet
Take the quiz and earn the badge
The app checks your answers, keeps your place in the Camp and wildlife, and works with no signal once saved.
Before you rely on thisA learning tool, not a replacement for training. In an emergency, call 911.