[pct-l] mountain lions

[dsaufley at sprynet.com]

The same technique of becoming larger, and more intimidating in both stature and mindset, seems to me to be a universal technique with animals in general to varying degrees.  It is important for the human to act as the alpha dog when managing a pack of dogs, and with horses it's imperative to project quiet control and calmness.  In either of those cases of course you wouldn't want to flail objects about to maintain control routinely, but the mindset and projection are important.  If they sense weakness or ineptitude, they will take advantage of it.  Marion, I don't know if the same is true with llamas, but I'm guessing it is.

The central story to the NatGeo program the other night was about a specific attack near a popular river beach, where at least a dozen children and adults were relaxing and playing.  The cougar came right out onto the beach in front of everyone to try to snatch a puppy frolicking on the beach.  They chased the cat off, and it went up into the trees, where it attacked a little girl who was walking down the trail to the beach, unaware of the danger.  The life vest that her father put around her neck, coupled with her mother's nursing skills and swift evacuation to medical care, saved her life.

The scientist on the program indicated that once a cat locks in on its prey, especially a starving cat, that it becomes oblivous to anything else, even the presense of more than a few people.  Once it thinks it's dominated the prey, it will hang on with all it's got. 

They always said, "Attitude IS Everything!" Pretty powerful stuff.

L-Rod



-----Original Message-----
>From: Slow Comfort <slow.comfort at gmail.com>
>Sent: Jan 28, 2007 7:12 PM
>To: Marion Davison <mardav at charter.net>
>Cc: PCT MailingList <pct-l at backcountry.net>
>Subject: Re: [pct-l] mountain lions
>
>In my youth I hunted cats, chased them with dogs, have chanced
>glimpsing them, heard them screaming at dusk and had them snoop around
>camp at night.  Jeff, If you were camped as close as a mile to a den,
>I doubt you were being stalked.  The night camp visit was probably a
>territorial "cat drive-by."  As far as I know, cats only stalk to
>kill.  A curious cat will mostly just snoop around quiet like,
>specially when humans sleep or lay up and watch you in camp or as you
>go by.  If they follow you, or hang around a couple of days, well,
>that usually amounts to more than curiosity.  I know for a fact little
>kids attract their attention, and that women alone are at greater risk
>in cat country.  Women should be careful about certain odors during
>certain periods of time.
>
>Ants and creeping things very often sense imminent foul weather
>conditions before outward signs are discernible to humans.  Predatory
>animals sense weakness, timidity and lack of courage in the same way,
>and dependent upon their mood (you'll have to ask the animal about
>that) will take advantage.  I don't believe there is "absolute" advice
>that will cover all situations for encounters with cats, same with
>bears.  But, here's some about cats I have seen work more that once.
>
>If you encounter a cat with an aggressive, domineering or unyielding
>attitude, and if the situation is such that avoidance by retreat is
>unlikely or seems potentially dangerous.  Displace your fear!  Stand
>tall, wave your poles aggressively, growl, grimace, snarl, yell and
>stamp your feet.  I am a total believer in carrying an ice axe and
>good knife in the wild.  If you believe within yourself that you will
>fight to kill an animal if he dares to attack you - it will sense it.
>Predatory animals instinctively have a healthy respect for courage as
>well as an equal disdain for  weakness, fear and cowardice, it's part
>and parcel of their instinctive survival mode and their kill to eat
>and/or territorial defense makeup.
>
>There are no guarantees you won't get in a fight.  But with cats, if
>one is really stalking you, and you're alone, it's doubtful you'll
>hear it until it tries to kill you.  So, if you're overly concerned
>about cats...I suggest avoiding cat country.  Otherwise, be respectful
>about basic needs for survival, get tough mentally, physically and
>display it in the confidence of your manner and wilderness presence.
>The animals will sense it.  I reckon there are sensible, human
>philosophical and cultural reasons why cat attacks have been on the
>upswing.  I can't comment on that, and the cats won't either.
>
>Hope I don't sound to all-knowing, I'm just telling what I do know
>from experience, having spent many years where animals live, but where
>most folks just pass through.  Nothing wrong with just passing through
>as opposed to living there for a time.  But, a prolonged living
>experience in the wilderness, provides a difference both of perception
>and reality than can otherwise be had by only passing through.
>
>Slow
>
>Visit me at leroyramirez.com
>
>
>
>
>Davison <mardav at charter.net> wrote:
>> We were "stalked" by a mountain lion while we snow camped along the
>> trail near Onyx Summit (section C Calif)  We had a group of about ten
>> camped in several feet of snow.  In the morning we found mt. lion tracks
>> around all of our tents.  One of our group went back the next weekend
>> and followed the tracks to a den about a mile away.  Braver than me!
>> Marion
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