what are the chances i could get eaten alive by a mountain lion if i hike in southern california?
hi i am visiting souther california for awhile and i would like to hike, but i am afraid of mountain lions. what are the chances i could get chewed alive? should i take a knife or mace to protect me? please refer me to some good gear. i am new to hiking. thanks.
The chances of you actually being attacked by a mountain lion while hiking in California are far less than the odds of you winning the jackpot on the state lottery… very very small. Between 1991 and 2003, there were a total of 7 attacks and 2 deaths due to mountain lions in California (see link below). Given that the number of people that go hiking each year in California runs into the millions, the odds of an attack on any one hiker is less than 1 in a million. Statistics for the entire US over the same period are 73 attacks and 10 deaths.
People tend to have an exhaggerated fear of mountain lion (and bear) attacks because when they do happen they get national news coverage, while much more common sources of death or injury to hikers don’t. Being knowledgeable about mountain lions and what to do if you encounter one is a Very Good idea (especially when in their habitat), but don’t let fears of a rare – if more dramatic – danger cause you to not prepare or be aware of far more likely dangers.
Most deaths or serious injury to hikers and backpackers in the US is due to weather. Dehydration and heat exhaustion claim a few lives each year in the southwest and lead to medivacs of 100s more. Hypothermia is probably an even bigger killer. Sprains are common, and while not fatal, can make for a difficult situation if you are a long way from the car (especially if alone). And of course, you are far far more likely to die or be injured in an auto accident driving to or from the trailhead than any of the other dangers above.
As others have noted, if you do run into a mountain lion and it takes a threatening approach to you, than you want to make yourself look as big and dangerous as possible. Throw open your jacket, raise your hands above your head, shout and throw rocks. DO NOT run – that triggers the animals chase instinct. Hiking with someone is always a better idea, even aside from lions.
Note however, that you could spend an entire year hiking in lion country and never even see one. I have been hiking throughout the southwest (prime lion country) for 20 years and I have only seen mountain lions twice – both times they took off running away from me as fast as their furry paws can carry them.
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