Mountain lion encounters are rare, but if you encounter one, here are 5 ways to stay safe

 

I suggest reading the whole article.

 

https://news.yahoo.com/mountain-lion-encounters-rare-encounter-140026062.html

 

Lindsey Botts, Arizona Republic
Fri, January 14, 2022, 9:00 AM

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Make yourself big

If you do stumble into an area where a mountain lion is present, you'll want to make yourself as large as possible. Open your jacket, raise your arms, wave sticks or walking poles, anything that's going to add to your size. This is especially true for children.

"Think of opening a jacket, so you look twice as wide or holding your hands up high," Neils advises. "What you definitely do not want to do is ... make yourself look small and meek, never crouch down or run." 

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"You don't have to be aggressive because sometimes that can backfire. But just large and confident in your space and loud in your space.

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Give the animal an exit

Once you've made yourself as threatening as possible, both Neils and Young recommend giving the animal space to flee. This is key in avoiding conflict because you never want the animal to feel cornered, which could lead to altercations. That means you'll need to be aware of both your and the animal's exit strategy.

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