Quick Take
- Mountain lion encounters are rare, but knowing how to respond can make a critical difference.
- Experts advise staying calm, avoiding running, and making yourself appear larger during an encounter.
- Simple habits like staying alert and avoiding solo hikes can significantly reduce your risk.
There are moments in nature that feel sort of cinematic and magical, like a deer crossing your path or a hawk gliding overhead. But there are also moments that can feel straight out of a horror film. That’s probably what it felt like for two cyclists on a Southern California trail not long ago, when they found themselves face-to-face with a mountain lion that didn’t just appear and then immediately dart away into the brush. Instead, it followed them for several minutes (that likely felt like an eternity!). And that isn’t the first time this sort of mountain lion or bobcat encounter has happened in recent years.
The riders did what many of us hope we’d do in that situation. They stayed calm and backed away slowly. They kept their bikes between themselves and the animal. And somehow, they made it out unharmed. It’s the kind of story that stops you mid-scroll, but it also raises a very real question: What should you do if this ever happens to you?
To find that answer, we spoke with Peter Tira, Information Officer at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, who walked us through what’s actually going on in these encounters and how to handle one if you ever find yourself in that very situation.
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