| Just recently here in Colorado Springs there have | | | | Try throwing whatever you can find at the |
| been numerous mountain lion sightings and a few | | | | cat-rocks, sticks, branches but do not run or turn |
| attacks. The attack involved a mother mountain lion | | | | your back. However.... |
| showing a young cub how to hunt. The | | | | NEVER go into the back country without some bear |
| target-someones' pet dog in their back yard. | | | | pepper spray. Bears, big cats, coyotes, wolves all |
| Mountain lion attacks this time of year are relatively | | | | hunt with their noses. They all have very sensitive |
| unusual. They usually are driven to lower elevations | | | | noses to smell food from miles away. That is what |
| to find water and food when it is dry-not in the | | | | makes pepper spray so effective against them. |
| middle of winter. | | | | IGBC and The Sierra Club basically say the same |
| They use a stalking technique when out in the back | | | | thing: |
| country to get their prey. Bears just lumber along but | | | | "No deterrent is 100% effective, but compared to all |
| mountain lions hunt which makes them in a sense | | | | others, including firearms, bear spray has |
| more dangerous. You may not see one until it is | | | | demonstrated the most success in fending off |
| charging you. Bears are surprisingly agile and quick but | | | | threatening and attacking bears and preventing injury |
| are up to 2-3 times the size of a very fast 120 | | | | to the person and animal involved." |
| pound cat. | | | | The best way to use it is to create a defensive wall |
| If you encounter a mountain lion or rather one finds | | | | of spray between you and the big cat or bear. That |
| you hiking or camping one means of self defense is | | | | is why the EPA requires at least 9 ounces of OC |
| to appear as large as you can with arms | | | | spray in bear spray. A regular 1 to 3 ounce civilian |
| outstretched and yell and scream. The threatening | | | | model pepper spray may work on an assailant but will |
| bluff may work. It does occasionally on bear attacks | | | | not be enough to thwart an attacking animal like a |
| too. | | | | bear or mountain lion. |