Читать книгу Discovering Griffith Park - Casey Schreiner - Страница 17

There is exactly one known mountain lion living inside Griffith Park, P-22, and he is collared and tracked. Although P-22’s range is significantly smaller than that of other mountain lions, his behavior hasn’t changed much—he’s extremely elusive, hunts by stealth, and actively avoids human encounters.

If you do encounter P-22—or any other mountain lion—stay calm and consider yourself lucky. Mountain lion encounters statewide are extremely rare and even more rarely result in injury to humans. However, small animals and children may be at greater risk than adults. Just in case you do meet one, here are some tips, which are all generally good advice for any wildlife encounter you’d prefer to avoid:

•Don’t run: Running may trigger the lion’s hunting instinct and cause an encounter that may not otherwise happen.

•Look big: Mountain lions generally only attack prey that’s smaller and weaker than they are. If you look large and aggressive, they’ll back away. Stand up, open your jacket, and make a lot of noise.

•Create distance: While maintaining eye contact and making noise, slowly back away to give the lion space and an opportunity to escape. Remember not to turn your back, as that may trigger the lion’s hunting instinct.