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How To Protect Yourself From Mountain Lion Attacks In California

By Rhonda Fletcher

How To Protect Yourself From Mountain Lion Attacks In California

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California protects the largest mountain lion population in North America, roughly 6,000 cats. Some live on preserves and in California's national parks, which are just some of the national parks in the US that have known mountain lion populations. However, because mountain lions are classified as a "specially protected" species in the Golden State, 4,500 wildcats are part of the wild population.

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One fun fact about mountain lions that may be the foundation of a few of their stranger nicknames is that they do not roar. Their voice is highly distinctive, a sound that combines a bark and a screech. Luckily, this wild, tawny-colored feline still knows how to purr.

Currently, the chance of a mountain lion attack is rare, at .18% annually. But as humans venture into the wild, hiking, biking, and mountain climbing, the likelihood of a meeting grows, posing an increasing threat to humans.

If venturing into California's preserved areas, knowing how to protect yourself from mountain lion attacks in California is vital.

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A California Mountain Lion By Any Other Name

Memorialized in rock paintings and known by over 80 names, this perfect predator is an obligatory carnivore

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Mountain lions are known by many names. Depending on habitat and traditions, these playful predators have over 40 English names, with another 18 South American monikers and 25 indigenous. The most common are mountain lion, puma, and cougar.

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The Chumash Indians depicted the native mountain lion in rock paintings and stories as sok-so-uh, an evil spirit. Early California settlers called them the "ghost cats" because their stealthy ways and sightings were so rare.

Evolutionary evidence of big cats is scarce. It is known that the largest small cats in California are all part of a venerated genetic line that started about 40 million years ago. The patriarch of the line, the Saber-Toothed tiger, appeared approximately 35 million years ago.

Surprisingly, a recent discovery of a well-preserved prehistoric saber-toothed kitten provides some insight into the paleontological record. The first puma-like Felidae roamed North and South America from 3 to 1 million years ago; the modern American Lion emerged 100,000 years ago.

The Many Names of the Mountain Lion

Wildcat Red tiger Catamount Screamers Painter

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Mountain Lion Habitats And Habits In California

Highly adaptive, California's stealthiest predator can be found from the Pacific coast to the Sierra Nevada Mountains

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Mountain lions are a protected species in California. The Golden State has one of the largest populations of mountain lions in the United States, with estimates between 4,000-6,000.

Mountain lions are second in size only to the jaguar, Panthera onca, but have the most extensive geographic range of its carnivorous cousins in the western hemisphere. Mountain lions can be found from the Yukon Territory to South America, including the Amazonian Rainforest. The wildcats are indigenous to 15 states, including California, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico.

California mountain lions (Puma concolor) are highly adaptive and live from sea level to 10,000 feet. But the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains are their preferred habitat.

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Mendocino, which includes the pine and redwood forests of northwest California, has the largest population in the state. In urban areas, Los Angeles is known as a California city where mountain lions live among humans.

Roughly 75 cats are known to roam Sonoma County, wine country. In the coastal region and highly hikeable Point Reyes National Seashore or the dry, arid terrain of the Central Sierra, sightings are rare. More recently, as human cities expand, the king of small cats copes with an urban-wildlife boundary where cities and rural areas meet.

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How Dangerous Are Mountain Lions In California?

Cougars are agile but dangerous carnivores, reaching speeds most humans can't outrun

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Svelt and agile adult males average between 45 and 66 inches long. Their tail extends 36 inches. The cats weigh between 85 and 170 pounds, with the females slightly shorter and lighter.

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A muscular powerhouse, they can reach speeds of 50 mph, jumping vertically up to 18 feet. The mountain lions have an average horizontal pounce of 40 feet.

Mountain lions, like most felids, are exceedingly cautious, wary cats. If given the choice, they will avoid humans. However, cats, whether large or small, are quintessential hunters, ambush predators that stealthily and patiently stalk their prey.

If you are ever in doubt, take a few minutes to watch your house feline stalk a backyard bird or a length of string.

Generally, mountain lions prefer to hunt at dusk. However, that does not mean they are inactive during the day. So, there is some danger of encountering pumas throughout the day when walking or hiking on wild trails.

"Statistically speaking, a person is 1,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a mountain lion," according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Pumas are carnivores hunting local animals, including deer, elk, and sheep. When available, rabbits and rodents are also on the menu.

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Mountain lion-human attacks in California are very rare. Since 1890, 50 attacks have been confirmed, but of those, only six were fatal. The most recent, in March of 2024, was fatally attacked in northern California. This was the first in the state in over 30 years.

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Ways To Protect Yourself From Mountain Lions In California

Solitary predators that love to chase will also back off when faced with a noisy crowd

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Catamounts are solitary predators. Often watching and tracking their prey for hours from high cliffs or thick underbrush. They avoid humans but will stand their ground if surprised or threatened.

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If you encounter a cougar on the trail, always give it a way out. Animals are at their most dangerous when they are cornered or trapped.

Don't run; cats love to chase. Back off slowly if possible, but keep eye contact and make lots of noise when standing face-to-face with a mountain lion. The CDFW recommends using items that make a metallic sound, such as a can of marbles, banging on a canteen, or a high-pitched whistle.

On hiking trails and in campsites, food, pets, and kids are usually present, and if left alone, they may prove tempting to the felines. As with any animal in the wild, don't leave food out for deer, rabbits, or other wildlife, as these may attract area mountain lions.

Store-bought Protection Against Mountain Lion Attacks In California

What do you do if you encounter wild animals while hiking? There is no specific product designed to protect against pumas in California. Some high-strength bear sprays, with 2.0% major capsaicinoids, claim to work on both bears and mountain lions. However, because of their protected status, the use of harmful chemicals and firearms against mountain lions is limited.

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Way to Protect Yourself From Mountain Lions in California

Keep children and pets secure Don't feed/attract deer, elk Make noise Make yourself look big Maintain eye contact Give them a way out

Bite Force of Known Predators Compared to the Mountain Lion

Animal

Bite Force

Mountain Lion (Puma)

400 psi

African Lion

600 psi

Great White Shark

4,000 psi

Orca (Killer Whale)

19,000 psi

Mountain lions are a North American icon, but as humans encroach on their territories, the number of dangerous, even deadly lion-human encounters will inevitably increase. But in reality, humans are more dangerous to mountain lions. So, in the wild, always treat this majestic cat and its territory respectfully. Whether hiking, camping or at the nearest park, take time to learn how to protect yourself from mountain lions in California.

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