Mountain Lion Attack!

This is a little off the “crime” topic but definitely falls into the “prevention” area of self defense. I found this true “cougar attack” story and wanted to share a couple of paragraphs, giving you a link to read it in full as well.

Bits & Pieces:

“I was wearing a backpack and carried my 30.06 Remington ADL, because we had taken a shot at that bear the day before in this same area. About 15 minutes after I got to the animal I got tired of standing around. I sat my gun down, took my pack off, got my knife out, and was going to get a jump on field dressing the cow.”

“A few seconds after I leaned over the cow, something jumped on my back. It was as if a 250-pound linebacker had broadsided me. I hadn’t heard anything and certainly didn’t expect it. I had no idea what was going on. I felt the animal on my back. My back was hurting. I had my knife in my hand and it was just instinct to fight back. I jabbed at the animal, then jabbed again. I can’t say if it was the first or second blow that hit it. The animal screamed, leaped off my back and ran up the trail. I was driven into the ground by the power of the retreating animal. Once the pressure was off my back I got up, briefly saw my attacker, and then fell. “I’ve just been hit by a freaking train.”

After fighting off the animal he radioed his friends who arrived to render help and assistance. “You’ve been attacked by a cougar.” “What?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “Your back has been ripped to crud.” I lifted my shirt off and saw the claw marks in my shirt. My back had five or six superficial scratches – like a regular kitty cat scratch. I was really shaking and my buddies said I looked like a ghost. It scared the living hell right out of me.”

I hope you will take the time to read this hunter’s full story, as it is becoming more typical of stories we’re seeing on the news these days, popping up every couple of weeks in the Northern Mid-West regions, but weekly or more often, in the Western and South West regions of our country. As mankind grows and demands that more wildlife habitat be destroyed to make way for new towns, housing, roads and other amenities, it is a story that will be repeated more often until we have driven these beautiful, but potentially dangerous animals, to extinction.

This gentleman was very lucky to have a stout hunting knife, and the mental acuity to quickly act upon the offending critter. This quick action saved him from a further mauling, or even a quick bite in the neck, severing the cervical area of the spine or the arteries, both bringing instant death.

He chose my 3rd preferred animal deterrent – a knife, only topped by a gun or a steel baton for self defense at my house. Standard 20% OC pepper spray like Guard Alaska for bears might have put the beast to flight but the story will demonstrate that this man was very lucky as well, since he probably would not have had the time to locate, unlock and fire the pepper spray. It was only the “knife in hand” that was quick enough to put the lightning fast and agile cougar to flight.

Since we don’t normally walk around “strapped” and “loaded for bear”, it would serve the reader well to recall this, and the many other recent attacks by bears and mountain lions, and know that it is going to get worse before it gets better. Knowing where you are and what type of danger is present or possible, is something most of us are fairly keen on and do give some thought to. How come everyone forgets these same essential observations and planning when they hit the “great outdoors”??

I’ll never understand I suppose, why people think these animals won’t harm them or that they’re cute??? Yes, they are handsome creatures to look at but their jobs aren’t in Las Vegas as entertainers, or cute little fuzzy-wuzzy animals like your tea-cup poodle, to be approached and “studied” by amateur wildlife enthusiasts. They are predators, and they WILL kill YOU under the right circumstances!