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I also recently heard a radio interview with another cyclist charged by a cougar. He was mountain biking, and there was one way in and out of the area he was headed. He heard some noises behind him, and there was a cougar on the trail between him and his exit route. He held his bike over his head, made himself look large, etc. Eventually the cougar went back into the woods.
But, then he had to get out. He waited a long time, then cautiously went back the way he had come. Again, he heard noises, and the cougar charged back out at him from off the trail. He stayed on his biked and yelled at it, and it ran away.
But, he said it was terrifying. Also, it obviously had hung around and was willing to at least do another half-hearted run at him.
We have a lot of cougars in my area, and it is always on my mind. Most people I know who mountain bike and hike go armed. Depending where I'm headed on my road bike, so do I.
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09-25-2009, 03:48 AM #16
Honky Nut Dodger
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If it was me I would not ride alone. When I lived in Nor Cal lots of the areas we mtb in had signs warning about Cougars. That was enough to scare the bejeepers out of me so I never went out in the bush alone. I think it is probably wise to err on the side of caution.
The most effective way to do it, is to do it.
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10-02-2009, 01:11 PM #17
It Matters To This One
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Cyclist Charged by Cougar
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10-02-2009, 01:23 PM #18
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well, if you have to shoot, aim for the sky. There are just not that many cougars
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10-02-2009, 06:49 PM #19
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[QUOTE=Biciclista;465796]well, if you have to shoot, aim for the sky. There are just not that many cougars
[/QUO
I couldn't agree more. And we're pushing them out of their habitats by developing those areas.Last edited by salsabike; 10-02-2009 at 07:23 PM.
"My predominant feeling is one of gratitude. I have loved and been loved;I have been given much and I have given something in return...Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and an adventure." O. Sacks
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10-03-2009, 09:35 AM #20
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Shoot before you have to, and you can aim for the sky, hoping to scare them away. Wait until you "have to" and you have to shoot to kill. Nothing is worse than wounding wildlife.
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10-29-2009, 11:46 AM #21
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Nope, you're not the only one- I'm always a little anxious when I ride alone in the woods. I spend a lot of time riding Tiger Mtn and Grand Ridge and figure that I'll eventually run into some wildlife. However, on those trails I'm more worried about coming across some sketchy guy than cougars or bears.
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10-29-2009, 01:09 PM #22
sail on, silver girl
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I, too, have those nervous thoughts...often cycling alone on remote country roads. And I don't live in lion country. I suspect it's because I am a member of the advocacy group Eastern Cougar Foundation and track lion sightings outside of what is considered normal lion range.
But this just goes to show how vulnerable we really can be--a 19 year old woman hiking alone in a national park was killed by two coyotes:
http://www.thetelegram.com/index.cfm?sid=298321&sc=79
