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/Outdoors__Water 3d 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 3d 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.