Somebody buy this man a beer! or a protein shake. A colorado man was at Horsetooth Mountain Park in northern Colorado where he was jogging. As the man reports a juvenial mountain lion lunged at him for an attack. I
"The jogger, whose identity has not been released, was running alone in the foothills of the Horsetooth Mountain Park in northern Colorado when, he said, he heard something behind him on the trail. As he turned to investigate, the juvenile mountain lion lunged.
The jogger said he was bitten on the face and wrist, according to a statement from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. But he was able to fight back, killing the young mountain lion. The man's injuries were serious, but not life-threatening, and he was able to get himself to a local hospital". - NPR February 5, 2019
While reports were coming in the Wildlife park was issuing statements about the attack.
Now this is more of an issue for Colorado, rather than KS. However, A report by the Wichita Eagle in 2017 stated that
"For nearly 100 years, Kansas biologists have heard stories and followed up on hundreds of reported sightings of mountain lions or signs they’ve left, such as tracks, claw marks or droppings. Yet state biologists have confirmed only about 20 mountain lions in Kansas over the past 113 years."
I can confirm after losing wrestling matches to multiple dogs of various sizes that an average man cannot just choke out a lion. So, if you see one in the area new spottings of them in KS almost everyday. Don't try to be this guy, even he wasn't wanting to fight a mountain lion and neither should you! However for those that love hiking, trails, etc. The National Parks Service has provided many a step by step on what to do and not to do.
If you see a mountain lion:
Stay calm. Hold your ground or back away slowly. Face the lion and stand upright.
Do not approach a lion. Never approach a mountain lion especially one that is feeding or with kittens. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
Do not run from a lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lion's instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up if possible so they don't panic and run. Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.
Do not crouch down or bend over. Biologists surmise mountain lions don't recognize standing humans as prey. On the other hand, a person squatting or bending over looks a lot like a four-legged prey animal. If you're in mountain lion habitat, avoid squatting, crouching or bending over, even when picking up children.
If the mountain lion moves in your direction or acts aggressively:
Do all you can to appear intimidating.
- Attempt to appear larger by raising your arms and opening your jacket if you are wearing one. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice.
- If looking bigger doesn't scare the mountain lion off, start throwing stones, branches, or whatever you can reach in its direction without crouching or turning your back. Don't throw things at it just yet. There is no need to unnecessarily injure the mountain lion. With that said, your safety is of the utmost importance and the National Park Service won't necessarily prosecute you for harassment of wildlife if something you throw at an aggressive mountain lion does make contact. During the initial stages of a mountain lion encounter, the idea is to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may be a danger to it.
If the mountain lion continues to move in your direction:
- Start throwing things AT it. Again, your safety is more important than the mountain lion's.
If the mountain lion attacks you:
- Fight back! A hiker in Southern California used a rock to fend off a mountain lion that was attacking his son. Others have fought back successfully with sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools, and their bare hands. Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the attacking animal.
A witness to the event was able to draw a picture of the events that unfolded and this is what they described. The accuracy was spot on said the man who choked the lion. (JK....teehee)