Читать книгу Backpacking Washington - Craig Romano - Страница 24

Washington supports a healthy population of the shy and solitary Puma concolor. While cougar encounters are extremely rare, they do occur. Cougars are cats—they’re curious. They will follow hikers, but rarely (almost never) attack adult humans. Minimize contact by not hiking or running alone and avoiding carrion. If you do encounter a mountain lion, remember they are looking for prey that can’t—or won’t—fight back. Do not run as that may trigger its attack instinct. Stand up and face it. If you appear aggressive, the cougar will probably back down. Wave your arms, trekking poles, or a jacket over your head to appear bigger and maintain eye contact with it. Pick up children and small dogs and back away slowly if you can safely do so without taking your eyes off of the cat. If a cougar attacks, throw things at it and shout loudly. If it gets close, whack it with your trekking poles, fighting back aggressively.

An inquisitive young bruin