Cougar! (long)

[Bluetree]

OMG... your post sent chills up my spine.
Southern Cal has seen more mountain lion attacks lately, most notably a small boy who was taken just a few yards from his parents and the cyclist Anne Hjelle. The courage shown by her cycling partner, Debbi Nicholls, who stepped in to save her friend was well documented by the local media. As Hjelle as being dragged away by her head, Nicholls grabbed her friend's leg and got into a tug-o-war with the cat. Her screams attracted other cyclists in the area, who pumelled the cat with rocks until it let go. The two women survived, however a third cylist was not so lucky.
http://archive.mtbr.com/03/0EFE586C.php
What's especially scary is that the attack occurred just 1/2 mile from a residential area. With urban sprawl forcing these animals into a smaller and smaller area, it might not be the last time we'll see this happening. BE CAREFUL!!!

[eclectic]

Wow! what a story

Glad you and your kitty are safe - too scarey

I used to say North Dakota was the safest place to live because we have very few natural things that will harm you (rattlesnakes are easily avoided, I have never seen one in the wild)
But in the last 3 years Mountain lions are being spotted around here on a regular basis and very close to town which suprises me because the city is situated in the middle of nowhere so it isn't like they have to look hard for empty space ( a lot of our towns are over 20 miles apart!). But as they say they go where the food is and we have been known to have deer in the coulees in the middle of town. Also there have been wandering Moose hit on main streets in town as well as in peoples back yards in the middle of town.

Yes central North Dakota, pure prairie, few trees - not Alaska!

I haven't been worrying too much while out riding but get spooked anytime I think about them. A couple of mtn bikers were being stalked while riding the Matah Heh (sp.) trail in the badlands, luckily the mtn lion left them alone.

this is long but I am SPOOKED again

[Bikingmomof3]

I am glad you are safe.