You may have remembered a handout that was originally posted on the GS2AC web site about Open Space District suggestions on what to do if you encounter a mountain lion in California and also what they recommend you to do if you are attacked. Of course they said “Weapons: Weapons of any kind are prohibited on preserves.” I sent it along to a great radio host, Brian Sussman, and he just had a ball with it. Click here to hear what Brian and Melanie Morgan had to say.
You may wonder about the title of this entry. I am a volunteer Hunter Safety Instructor and am well aware of the California laws that prohibit killing or even injuring a California Mountain Lion. The title is not recommending what to do to the beast, but rather what they can do to us.
Since the crazy California voters became infected with the Earth Day communists (yes, the Earth Day founders were communists and have an agenda that has nothing to do with saving the earth or the environment) they voted to declare the California Mountain Lion an endangered species.
They really were not endangered (the lions, not the crazy voters, unfortunately), but some people who do not know the difference between a fuzzy and cuddly domestic house cat and a cougar decided to make them off limits
Now, a couple of years later, UC Davis researchers have released a report with a suggestion that may help you: RUN! I must say that they do not recommend this for all events, but on a case-by-case basis. I find several things amiss with running in general. They state that 50% of the people who ran were not hurt. That means 50% were hurt compared to about a quarter of the people who stayed. I do not know how fast a California Mountain Lion can run, but I know it can run a lot faster than we can.
Matt Weiser of the Sac Bee comments:
Running also might not be smart for a group, because anyone who falls behind is more likely to be attacked, especially children or the elderly.
This sounds like a suggestion for the more healthy of us, and if you are one of those atheists that believe in Darwin, good for the gene pool.
Matt also reports that “Making noise had no effect, unless someone fired a gun, which often startled the attacking cougar and sent it running.”
Hmmmmmmm…..
This says a lot. A mere sound of a gun often chased away the beast. The people who were attacked must not have been good enough shots to kill the mountain lion. Maybe they needed more gun control classes so they would not miss.
Now you can see why we need to be able to carry concealed guns for protection in our forests. Even if we did not hit the California Mountain Lion, it would have likely run away.
I did read the part about some attacks being from behind, but a sturdy backpack loaded with spare ammunition for your concealed .44 Mag handgun would prevent the claws from hurting you and also be conducive to a good cardiovascular workout when hiking.
Until we can gather around the campfire roasting a tasty California Mountain Lion on a spit, we must wait until the California voters either wise up and change the law or run out of food due to all the farms growing corn for fuel instead of feeding America. But, campfires will probably be outlawed by then.
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