Where Do Mountain Lions Live?
Mountain lions are found primarily on the west coast of the United States, throughout Central America, and in most of South America, with a few exceptions. In North America, most mountain lions can be found in an area stretching from British Columbia, Canada, down through the western coast of the U.S. and Mexico. In the U.S., these mountain lions can be found in the following states:
ArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoFloridaIdahoIllinois (sightings)Iowa (sightings)Kansas (sightings)Michigan (sightings)Missouri (sightings)MontanaNebraska (sightings)New MexicoNew York (sightings)North Dakota (sightings)Oklahoma (sightings)OregonSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahWashingtonWisconsin (sightings)Wyoming
The estimates of mountain lion populations vary, but it’s believed that somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 of these cats exist throughout the United States. Other estimates place that number higher at 40,000, though.
Why Are Mountain Lions Dangerous?
Mountain lions are apex predators in their range, with few animals capable of attacking and killing them. Their ability to stalk and attack their prey is remarkable. Also, their ability to deliver a single, often fatal attack means that any person or creature in their range needs to watch out for them. Fortunately for humans, mountain lions are not as large as the real big cats. For the most part, mountain lions are smaller than humans, and that makes it possible to fight them off. Still, mountain lions, especially the largest mountain lion specimens, can kill humans or seriously harm humans.
How Often Do Mountain Lions Attack Humans?
Mountain lion attacks are rare. In fact, only about 120 attacks and 27 fatal attacks have been recorded over the last 100 years in the U.S. That means it is very unlikely that you will encounter a mountain lion or that one will see you and attack. Yet, mountain lion attacks are increasing in some areas. For example, California has recorded 11 mountain lion attacks in the last 20 years, and one of them has been fatal. Five of the most recent ones occurred in four years. This uptick in mountain lion encounters can be traced to a few changes, including: These are just some of the general factors that have influenced the number of mountain lion attacks in recent years. As more people spend time in mountain lion territory, it becomes necessary to learn how to avoid attacks and what to do in the event of a confrontation.
How to Avoid a Mountain Lion Attack
Avoiding mountain lion attacks is a matter of being aware of one’s surroundings and knowing how to handle mountain lion sightings. The following tips can help keep you safe: These tips can help prevent an attack before it starts. Remember that mountain lions would rather avoid a confrontation with humans in most cases. Giving these animals a wide berth is the safest way to deal with them. That being said, you don’t want to invite disaster by making yourself an opportune target.
Does Bear Spray Work on Mountain Lions?
Bear spray works on mountain lions, and the concept behind its usage remains the same for many large carnivores. The capsaicin in the bear spray will act as an irritant and will likely make the animal retreat. However, if you’re going to deploy bear spray against a mountain lion, then you need to make sure of a few things.
Shop for a bear spray that offers a good spray distancePractice using the bear spray before you take it with you on a trail. You don’t want to read instructions with the cat bearing down on you.Make sure you’re not spraying into the wind, or you’ll simply hurt yourself.Keep the bear spray somewhere that you can easily grab while moving.Try to spray the animal directly with the spray if possible.
Once the animal has left the area, it’s a good idea for you to leave as well. Report the incident to authorities once you are safe.
How to Fend Off a Mountain Lion Attack
Now that we know that bear spray is a good item to carry with you, we can look at how to fend off a mountain lion attack as a process. If a mountain lion does attack, you need to be prepared. Take a look at some ways that you may fend off a mountain lion, including what to do if it turns into a fight. These tips work once a mountain lion sees you. If the animal starts behaving aggressively or coming toward you, then:
Make noise by speaking loudly and firmly at the lion, smacking sticks together, or slowly, loudly clapping.Start throwing rocks or anything else you have at the animal to make it turn away.Deploy bear spray or pepper spray against the mountain lion.Prepare to fight if the animal comes close, protecting your head and neck from the assault.Fight back with everything and anything you have if attacked. Use sticks, rocks, pocketknives, or anything else that can be reached without bending over. Try not to allow yourself to get taken to the ground.
You can usually ward off a mountain lion with bear spray. Yet, if the mountain lion is still attacking, you need to be prepared to hit it with everything you have. Several cases have emerged where people have fought off mountain lions, even with their bare hands. However, the very young and very old are still prone to be harmed by these animals. It’s best to have some way to ward off a mountain lion if you find yourself in their territory.
Final Thoughts on Mountain Lion Safety
We’ve answered, does bear spray work on mountain lions? Yes, bear spray can be a powerful way to prevent a physical attack from occurring, potentially saving your life. However, it’s also important to be proactive about one’s safety in the areas where mountain lions live. You need to take a complete approach to safety and not rely on one item to survive. Stay alert, travel in groups, and know when it is better to leave an area being stalked by a mountain lion than to persist in an activity.
