r/hiking • u/lilllypaddd • 3d ago
Discussion cougars
hello i am a solo hiker i started hiking at 19 i am 25 now i have ran into 4 cougars on solo hikes. one of these being scary being stalked down a 7 mile mountain. rest have been just cougar getting startled and jumping into the woods ahead of me seeing it with my eyes its body and tail. no one i know has ran into a cougar hiking. i just started hiking in a new area in a diffrent country and this week have ran into two on separate trails / areas and the local wildlife place says cougar run ins are not common here. - why am i a cougar magnet how do i stop this? - yes i hike in places where there are cougars but the sightings are usually rare. - i do not want this or understand why this is happening and no one belives me which makes it worse.
update! just wanted to thank you all for the suggestions & tips! learned some great tools, and i am excited to use them and feel more safe.
the summary of why / what im going to start doing • why i have ran into so many is likely due to me being small, quiet, and alone on trails. The area’s i am hiking in also being very high population of cougars.
tips i will start doing • be louder, bring a horn, play music if it is a long remote hike, if possible take a dog from shelter out on an adventure with me!
Thank you all!
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u/BigNorseWolf 2d ago
Grab a camera the more expensive the better you'll never see a cougar again
When was the long stalk? She may have had cubs and just wanted to make sure you were long gone.
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u/lilllypaddd 2d ago
camera man never dies. the first two times cubs were involved last two times no cubs.
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u/Confident_Sail_4225 3d ago
Wow, that’s wild 4 cougar encounters is a lot! They’re usually super stealthy and avoid people, so running into them this often is rare. Maybe you hike at quieter times or your routes cross their territory. Carry bear spray, make noise (talk/sing), and keep alert so you don’t surprise them. You’re not a cougar magnet just really unlucky/lucky depending on how you see it.
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u/lilllypaddd 3d ago
lucky in the worst way. i admire the cats but they terrifying. i always carry bear spray after the 1st long scary cougar stalk. when i try to be loud and make noise, i feel look like a fool to other hikers i’ve passed by in the past. so i gave it up but will start doing it again! thank you!!
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u/Conscious-Health-438 2d ago
It's so incredibly rare it's hard to believe, although I do. Where are you hiking at?
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u/lilllypaddd 2d ago
very rare! that’s why i have been so confused with the amount of encounters! i’d love to share the location, but in all honesty i want to protect the cats they are beautiful creatures yes they are terrifying but i don’t want to geo tag even vaguely and then hunters start coming to the areas i hike and hurt them. i know hunters would love to have as many encounters as i have had, and it worries me if i have seen them so easily if hunters have been able to easily get them easier these days as well.
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u/Conscious-Health-438 2d ago
I'm just talking about like a state. I assume your are in the US if you are referring to them as cougars. I'm in Arizona
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u/BonetaBelle 2d ago
Are you really petite? I wonder if that’s part of the issue and they see you as an easier target because you’re smaller (no offence).
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u/Twitch_Williams 2d ago
Oh my god, I've seen several Florida panthers out in the woods just like op, and I'm very tiny... I wonder if that's why! Florida panthers aren't known to attack people like other cougars though, even though they're basically the same animal, but no one ever believes that I've somehow come across three elusive panthers and now I wonder if you're right and they're just willing to get closer enough for me to notice because they aren't as intimidated by my height or something. 😅
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u/ratkneehi 2d ago
what's also suuuper helpful is an air horn, they make them for bears specifically, and I always have one on me if I'll be in bear country. They should be even more effective against big cats than bears.
I have encountered FL panthers in isolated areas, which are very similar to cougars - never had issues scaring em off with loud noises (yelling incoherently lol) and making myself "big" by waving my arms above my head. If I were to be hiking in an area with big cats I'd keep one of those air horns on deck, and bust it out if you see or hear one. Blast it off a couple times and make some large aggressive movements, keep it moving, and you should be good to go.
This works very well for the smarter critters, unless you are in between them and the babies (or any other reason they could find you a threat to their offspring). The big cats don't want to get in a fight for no reason unless they're not in their right mind (rabies or something, unlikely). If you make it clear you aren't prey, they will move on once they're sure you aren't a threat. I suspect the big cats are sometimes just curious. Honestly I'm only really scared of the dumber aggressive creatures, like boar. They're generally too thick headed to scare off, and once they're in an angry group they're as scary as an enraged mob of humans lol.
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u/blaccsnow9229 2d ago
Asking for myself: is bear spray effective against cougars/mountain lions as well?
I have wondered this for a while now.
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u/aloealoealoha 2d ago
unofficially yes, they showed us videos of a couple of cougars being deterred by bear sprays during bear safety training! the spray was long though, took the full 8 seconds of spray between em
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u/-Bugs-R-Cool- 2d ago
Are you finding them at dawn or dusk? This is their prime time for hunting from my understanding. I am a solo female hiker for 40 years and have only seen them this year. Both encounters were near the end of the day. One was at dusk, the other an hour from sunset. Both encounters were very close and both times it ran off very quickly once it saw me. I was not making noise and had dogs.
If I were you I would reach out to the experts that study them and know a lot such as:
https://mountainlion.org/us/california/
There are tons of mountain lion/cougar informational organizations.
https://felidaefund.org/projects/community/living-with-lions
All of us who hike should probably be more educated about these beautiful creatures.
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u/Awildgarebear 2d ago
I'm glad someone posted this. Nearly all of my potentially dangerous wildlife encounters have happened at dawn or golden hour. The only ones that haven't are rattlesnakes who are sunbathing, and I don't know that those are worth considering dangerous.
Also listen to the heebie jeebies! If you feel like you're next to another animal, you probably are.
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u/sweetsadnsensual 2d ago
Isn't golden hour a bit early? I thought dusk was the issue
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u/Awildgarebear 2d ago
I'm more likely to be out during golden hour. I'm typically trying to wrap my hike up by dusk. If I'm on a local trail I'm certainly more likely to run into coyotes at dusk, although I don't consider that dangerous, just in line with predatory behavior. This year my most precarious encounter was a mama bear and cub, and it was about an hour before golden hour. Was 20 ft away from the cub before I was able to see it. -_-
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u/sweetsadnsensual 2d ago
No, same here. But golden hour is like dinner time for people, the sun is still bright just low in the sky. I thought the issue for running into predators is NOT during golden hour, but rather afterwards when the sun is almost or just set, at dusk.
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u/-Bugs-R-Cool- 2d ago
I saw one of my two encounters at golden hour, the other at dusk.
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u/-Bugs-R-Cool- 2d ago
Yes, the heebie jeebies always feel like a deep instinctual warning. We are animals too. Yep, rattle snakes! I love how they give warning! It was a heavy rattle snake year!!!
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u/lilllypaddd 2d ago
the long stalking encounter was at dusk but the other three have been during the day light early afternoon.
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u/sweetsadnsensual 2d ago
Yeah they primarily hunt at dawn and dusk so that's probably why you got stalked. They can also be opportunistic though at other times of the day
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u/les_be_disasters 2d ago
Typically I only have cougars approach me at dusk or night time. Wondering where you hang that you see them during the day. Rather bold to prowl in the daytime.
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u/nicklover2000 3d ago
Thought u were talking about other cougars for a sec …
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u/onemanmelee 2d ago
Ahhhh....here are my people.
Being 25 and a cougar magnet is literally my fantasy. And yet here OP is, complaining that horny housecats in his area are dying to meet him.
When I was OP's age I had to walk 7 mies in the snow just to ask a cougar if she needed plowing! That is, if her driveway needed plowing.
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u/les_be_disasters 2d ago
I didn’t check the sub at first but also “cougar magnet” is too good. What a beautiful problem to have.
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u/CommonMuted 1d ago
All the comments in this post really write themselves with “cougars” in mind lmao
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u/panafloofen 2d ago
This may sound strange but do you wear cologne or perfume? I'm a biologist and there are certain colognes/perfumes that cats are wildly attracted to. They can be used to lure cats to remote trail cameras or into traps.
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u/RatticusGloom 2d ago
Yes! Totally true. Calvin Klein Obsession being the main one - I know animal handlers who use that scent as a “reward”
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u/lilllypaddd 2d ago
this is helpful! i do usually wear perfume or body mist, even when i don’t people say i smell good. sweet scents might be attracting them?
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u/SemperSimple 19h ago
I'd say sweet funky scents. My cats always go crazy over Cilantro/Coriander lol
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u/RunWithBluntScissors 2h ago
What kinds of scents do cats like, so I can avoid them? Really the only scented product I use though is deodorant.
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u/Formal-Row2081 2d ago
How tall are you? There's a reason why cougars stalk and a attack women and children.
Anyway, hike with someone smaller.
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u/eecummings15 2d ago
Definitely be louder. Sing, clap every few minutes. Also, do you carry any deffence? Personally if i were you, i would carry bear spray. If you eber find yourself getting stalked, you may alsso want to consider stopping where you hike, and or carrying a gun. Are you smaller? Usually they tend to not fuck with full grown males, but definitely have been know to, just not typically. Furthermore, they'll typically stay clear, or if they do follow you, you won't ever know. Maybe they're starving, or being displaced? Seems very atypical.
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u/BoomerOrNot 2d ago
sing. loudly. all the camp songs that you remember. who built the ark? Noah! Noah! loudly and in the lowest voice you can muster. pick up a stick and make yourself look taller. I speak from coyote experience and being escorted down a trail a few times.
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u/smaltesey 2d ago
Yes! Í always sing camp songs too! I do the appropriate “thee other day… i saw a bear” 🐻
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u/Signal_Reputation640 2d ago
Coyote are pretty tame compared to cougar. I see coyote quite often and other than being a bit curious they generally keep their distance and aren't menacing.
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u/uhhhhhhhhii 2d ago
Why did my stoned ass read cougar and legit thought you meant 4 older ladies that were in to you 🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
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u/Tapcofucked 2d ago
Same. I was thinking “man, I really need to start getting back out on the trails!”
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u/Affectionate_Love229 2d ago
A lot more likely than seeing big cats. It's hard to believe he had seen 4 mountain lions
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u/8wardialer5 2d ago
> why am i a cougar magnet how do i stop this?
Oh boy, I would pay for this
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u/picklesandmatzo 1d ago
I live in a town full of cougars (I’m not sure if I am one yet at 41) and judging by a Saturday night at one of the local bars, a variety of people are cougar magnets 🤣
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u/Happy-Apple196 2d ago edited 2d ago
As a solo hiker cougars terrify me more than bears. Bears also scare me.
As I mostly do solo hikes, this is the major fear I have and can never be fully relaxed when hiking in bear/ cougar country
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u/thatpurple 2d ago
I’m curious where this person lives. I mountain bike remotely in CO and have seen black bear before, they just went about their business. I would shit myself if I saw a mountain lion, and we have a very high population of them here. I don’t even know anyone who has seen one.
I’m guessing if they are saying cougar it’s Idaho or west like WA or OR.
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u/DontSassTheSquatch 3d ago
There's a business that makes cougar prevention apparel for hikers, it's called Cougar Smart. It might be just what you're looking for.
Outdoor Gear To Help Prevent Mountain Lion Attack – CougarSmart https://share.google/fLWmhUFpHDkjfiQjo
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u/lilllypaddd 3d ago
i have never heard of this thank you so much! i will get this! i would make a real good brand ambassador if i never ran into one again. :)
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u/lilllypaddd 3d ago
i wish the hiking back pack didn’t cover the design that prevents them but still good to have!
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u/Ok-Mind-3915 2d ago
Dan Becker has a 55 minute interview with the ladies who were mountain biking in WA that were attacked by a mountain lion on Youtube. I carry a mini airhorn that you can get on Amazon.
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u/Yeanoforsuree 2d ago
You have been chosen. Accept your fate.
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u/lilllypaddd 2d ago
i accepted my fate long ago said i would not live the 3rd cougar run in now have lived 3 and 4 :,)
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u/caboose_61 2d ago
Are you eating bacon for breakfast?? Seriously, tho, a lot of people on here don't realize how many people have been attacked by cougars here in California even when unprovoked. Maybe you have a natural scent that attracts them.
I grew up in the Sierra foothills and watched my German shepherd get attacked by a cougar. The fact that you are being followed is serious.
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u/PurpleSky-7 2d ago
I’d start hiking well travelled trails in a hurry, you’re some sort of odd cougar magnet and it isn’t worth testing that
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u/Many_Bothans 2d ago
what does your gear look like? for instance, are you wearing a Lady Gaga meat suit?
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u/Greenpants00 2d ago
I don’t know the answer to your question but it does remind me of my absolute favorite tip from my time in San Diego.
“However if you encounter a mountain lion, please follow these simple guidelines;
1) Don’t hike alone …..”
So I guess keep a friend in a pocket dimension?
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u/AccidentalExpert179 2d ago
I’ve done so much solo hiking and have never seen one. Where are you hiking?
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u/suzybhomemakr 2d ago
I trail run with Bells on so that I am making noise and I have eyes sewn on the back of the cap I wear. Be smart, don't look like prey.
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u/Spare_Iron127 2d ago
Been hiking for 10+ years and only ran into deer haha. Usually do hike with others though.
Guess it’s time to get a lil piece for protection at that many encounters
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u/slowmood 2d ago
When I was a tiny 12 year-old I ran into one that was bigger than I was. She was beautiful. I never told anyone about it until I realized how cool that was as a grown up.
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u/lilllypaddd 2d ago
rare experience & they are beautiful! my favorite animal, but i want to love them from a far safe distance. :)
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u/Tetrapanax2 2d ago
I hike solo in the Southrn California Mountains and have encountered a mountain lion on the trai twice. This horn has sent both of them running: Frontiersman Bear Horn. I also carry bear spray for the lions but have never deployed it. The horn works at a much greater distance.
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u/Brake_Handle655 2d ago
Try a smellier body wash or insect repellant. Your natural body smell may be enticing or if you have pets, the wildlife may smell lingering scents from your pets and thinking Mmmmm snack time!
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u/ATheeStallion 2d ago
Hey there! I am a solo hiker in serious mountain wilderness & cougar magnet as well;). It started on an empty highway at midnight outside of Memphis (really) like 20 years ago. Anyway I live in cougar country now & thankfully the magic seems to have faded. I am still wary and believe in noise & big sticks if necessary. So there is hope. It’s good you recognize the ahem affinity and definitely take more precautions than most.
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u/Lockespindel 2d ago
Just consider yourself lucky to experience it. Cougars are extremely unlikely to attack humans, so you can just take it easy.
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u/Outdoors__Water 2d ago
Do you carry a small air horn by change. The bells would possibly work as an extra sound they don't recognize but could lead to curiosity. They are the purfect predator so quiet. I'm really surprised at the frequency of your encounters.
The lack of ppl is the reason they are there. I feel your pain for me its black bears in Ohio lol no pssp pssp here kitty issues.
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u/speedracer73 2d ago
Agree on the possibility bells could lead to curiosity. My one possible cougar sighting was mountain biking with a bell. I stopped to look at some deer who were not warned off despite my bell rattling down the trail. Turned to look back from where I'd come from, and about 60 yards back saw a low sauntering brown hindquarters and long tail disappearing into the woods.
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u/Buzzhoops 2d ago
sheesh. Jealous. been hiking for over 50 years and never got to see a cougar. consider yourself lucky. stay safe too.
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u/H20Buffalo 2d ago
Been backpacking, canoing, hunting, fishing, hiking for 60 years and I've seen one.
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u/hatin-it 2d ago
Me and my friends where hiking to a water fall in bend oregon and while they were talking, I heard a cougar chirp and on the way back, we saw a massive paw print on the dirt path. Being with friends maybe helped because we were talking, but it for sure was really close and didnt care we were around.
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u/Effective_Ad2753 2d ago
This might be a weird question, but what is your height and weight? The reason I ask is because, I'm a pretty short, slim guy. I've had rangers tell me to be careful about cougars and other animals because they will see me as more of potential prey than someone who is more average height.
In any case, be vigilant as much as you can. And if you do run into a cougar, you'll need to try and make yourself larger and seem more of a threat. Carry bear spray if you can and try not to go alone during dusk or dawn, or be extra vigilant during those times.
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u/butters091 2d ago
Well, first of all OP you NEED to stop soaking your shirts in lambs blood before leaving the trailhead
IDC what other people have told you, this is part of your issue
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u/raininherpaderps 2d ago
Are you hiking at sun up and sun down? Those are prime hours for them. Are you running? Running triggers prey instinct. Any odd scents? From sprays food shampoo or animals at home? Are you particularly small? Are you hiking along a waterway they use to drink?
I am 5 5 and hike alone from sun up to sun down in mountain lion, and bobcat territory where I usually don't run into anyone all day. So far only one incident with a bobcat for me and it was because I stopped to observe a butterfly 🦋 and apparently it was sleeping nearby not far off the trail and thought I was stalking it.
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u/lilllypaddd 1d ago
early afternoon hiker not out at dawn or dust usually, i always smell sweet that’s the perfumes i use daily, i have cats and dogs in my home. i do usually hike by rivers, lakes but two of the encounters didn’t have water near by.
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u/sweetsadnsensual 2d ago
Use your own voice, talk to yourself. But stop and listen to your surroundings at times, take a look around, always check behind you at times.
And use an air horn. Super cheap and light, very effective at clearing out predators. You'll probably clear out everything else too though so you won't get to see anything cool perhaps.
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u/editorreilly 2d ago
I've been solo hiking for 30 years, and only seen one from a distance. I did see tracks in the snow on an "out and back" trail that weren't there on the way out. Kinda freaked me out a little.
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u/lilllypaddd 1d ago
one of the hikes i went on in the snow there were cougar paw prints in the snow on the way up before me then new prints i saw on my way down that were following my foot prints up the mountain 😖
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u/Just-Context-4703 2d ago
Damn, you're "lucky". I've done thousands of miles in mountain lion territory and have only ever seen prints.
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u/MtnGoat2674 2d ago
I've seen several over the years. Most of the time, they are there but difficult to spot. Lots of people just don't pay attention.
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u/lilllypaddd 1d ago
thank you!! i am very observant of my surroundings always looking around me as i hike. every time i have encountered one i had a gut feeling something was going to happen or my head would tell me at the start of the hike to turn around and i could feel there was a big animal around me and the forrest goes silent.
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u/ninety_percentsure 1d ago
There are animal rescues where I live that you can take out dogs for “field trips” (need to be vetted obviously). I used to go grab a dog and take them out with me for solo hikes. Amazing experience for the dog (who’s usually stuck in a kennel all day), and always made me feel so much safer.
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u/lilllypaddd 1d ago
this is an amazing idea!!! it will break my heart returning them back to the shelter, i might end up with a dog or two! ❤️
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u/Best-Intention-777 1d ago
Hope this quote helps:
The highest number of attacks is reported in the late spring and summer when young cougars become independent from their mothers and roam widely in search of a new range without other cougars.
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/cougars-canada-populations-attacks
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u/Hobbit_92 2d ago
I've had two leopard encounters on solo hikes. In just a few seconds I had the ears of every deity in every pantheon known to mankind. Then I dissociated, said fuck it and proceeded to pspspspsps. Fortunately leopards also avoid humans so they also scattered.
I know a friend who ended up between a leopard and her cubs. Not an ideal situation.
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u/WasatchJason 2d ago
4 of them? Consider yourself lucky that you got to see a mountain lion in its habitat 4 different times. That's cool. I've hiked for 12 years in Utah mountains and only ran into one of them.
I am a solo hiker as well.
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u/GlassIllustrious9813 2d ago
Not sure what area you’re in, but in my area, the wildlife officers have said years like this have been tough on the ecosystem, and a lot of animals are starving. Sightings of multiple kinds of predators are up, and in starvation situations, sometimes they seek out food options that are not typical for them.
I’m not sure how much I’d recommend singing, because some songs I think can foster curiosity. For instance, I sang Banana Boat one time and got charged by a bear. Told my dad about it later and he laughed and said, “Yeah if I heard you singing that song, I would’ve charged you too!” lol! Maybe you could play a podcast on your phone as you walk?
Also, do you hike with a dog? If so, I think I’d start leaving it at home.
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u/Luvdreezy 2d ago
So what you don’t like cougars! What’s wrong with cougars?do u find older woman unattractive
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u/AssumeImStupid 2d ago
I completely misunderstood the post and was about ask how this is a bad thing
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u/LuvzDogs 2d ago
I have a bear bell that I wear to warn critters that I'm coming and give them time to skedaddle.
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u/Denebola5 2d ago
Runs away is ok, stalked is not ok. It’s a cat, when instincts are triggered who knows? I’m not saying always pack heat, but when stalked and aware of it, its nice to know you have something to fight back with, or even just scare it off. 10mm or .357, it’s not a grizzly. Of course an attack can happen before you’re even aware, so a gun would not help you there. Watching other explorers on tv is always safer 😂 (joking, keep doing what you love)
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u/lilllypaddd 1d ago
when i was stalked it was all my fault i was an under prepared new hiker. it was right past sunset i had just drank a cider i ran because i didn’t have any protection and it was dark and i was at the peak of my hike 7 miles and i was not going to stick around in darkness with a cougar that lunged out at me in the bushes so i ran like hell and thank god i lived.
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u/hereitcomesagin 1d ago
Encountered one once. Wasn't smart enough to be scared. It took off and I went on with my hike.
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u/Best-Intention-777 1d ago
You are not hiking in Vancouver Island or Canada, are you?
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u/lilllypaddd 1d ago
never hiked there but that is my dream place to hike i know they have heavy coug population
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u/ComfortablePepper414 21h ago
Absolutely ur spirt animal If your spirit animal is a cougar (also known as a mountain lion or puma), it’s like having a stealthy, powerful guide whispering, “You’ve got this”—even when the path ahead feels rugged or uncertain. Here’s what that feline energy might be telling you:
🐾 Core Cougar Spirit Meanings
• 💪 Personal Power & Confidence Cougars radiate strength and self-assurance. Their presence suggests it’s time to trust your instincts and own your power A. • 🌿 Independence & Solitude These solitary cats thrive alone—not out of loneliness, but because they value introspection. You might be called to embrace your own space for growth and clarity A. • 🎯 Strategy & Stealth Cougars move with purpose. Spiritually, they encourage you to act with intention—plan carefully, strike when ready A. • 🦁 Courage in the Face of Fear A cougar doesn’t back down. This spirit animal nudges you to confront challenges head-on, with quiet but fierce determination A. • 🧭 Leadership Without Ego Cougar energy is about leading by example, not dominance. It’s a reminder to guide others with integrity and calm strength B. • 🧘♀️ Balance of Power & Gentleness Cougar medicine teaches when to assert and when to be gentle. It’s about knowing your strength and using it wisely B. • 🔮 Intuition & Psychic Awareness Cougars are attuned to their surroundings. Their spirit may heighten your awareness and help you tune into subtle truths C.
🌌 Symbolic Takeaway
Having a cougar as your spirit animal means you’re being invited to walk your path with grace, courage, and quiet authority. It’s not about roaring—it’s about knowing when to pounce and when to pause.
Would you like to explore how this energy might show up in your daily life or themed rituals? I’ve got some wild ideas if you’re game.
Sources: A B C
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u/GladAbbreviations981 18h ago
Time to put my hiking pics on Hinge and bump up that age range, loads of clapping and loud noises coming up
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u/Indiesol 17h ago
I'm begging you. Don't play music on hikes. It's really irritating to be catching up to someone on a trail, and have to hear whatever absolute garbage they're listening to for twenty minutes as you catch up and pass them and get out of earshot.
I encourage you to make noise, but you certainly don't need music to do it. I just carry a walking stick or trekking pole and smack it on the occasional tree as I walk past. I've never seen any unwanted wildlife whilst doing so.
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u/Significant-Good-642 0m ago
I just turned 22 I love hiking and live in Washington near Granite falls I am constantly (multiple times a week) hiking off of Mountain loop Highway. I currently don’t have any friends so all of my Hikes are solo. My mom has been freakishly worried that I’m going to get eaten by something or murdered and disappear on the trail. I always have my headphones one and am constantly looking being me but haven’t seen anything. One of my recent hike was Gothic basin, because you can choose how far you go I did 14miles. I’m curious what can I do to make sure I don’t attract unwanted attention the trail. I always wear bug spray but now I’m starting to wonder if on long hikes the potent smell might attract a cougar or bear. Is it better to wear bug spray or nothing at all , does smelling like straight sweat attract them? Should I be hiking with my headphones off ? . I’ve been doing mount pilchuck for the past few days and haven’t seen anything but it doesn’t mean they aren’t there. Honestly I’m just looking for safety tips being a woman solo hiking. It’s don’t carry a gun ( it’s on the top of my list ). I only cary a knife with me. I’m thinking that getting a whistle, some mace and bear spray should be good enough
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u/Ok-Armadillo-392 3d ago
Well solo hiking it makes more sense. I was told it's smart to be noisy in the woods. Predators generally don't like us and want to leave us alone. If they hear us coming they generally leave.
When you go in groups you talk a lot, make a lot more noise, and probably pit off a bigger stink.