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Mountain Lion
Language
How to read it,
what does it mean and how to react:
1.
Activity: Far away and moving away
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Meaning:
Secretive and avoidance
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Human
Risk: Insignificant or minimal
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Appropriate
Response: Keep children where they can be observed
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2.
Activity: Less than 100 yards away, various positions and
movements, attention directed away from people.
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Meaning:
Indifference
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Human
Risk: Slight, provided human response
is appropriate
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Appropriate
Response: Avoid rapid movements, avoid running, avoid loud,
excitable talk. Stay in groups, keep children with
adults. Observe lion closely.
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3. Activity: Lion less than 50 yards away, various body
positions, ears may be changing positions, intent towards people;
following behavior.
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Meaning:
Curiosity
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Human
Risk: Slight for adults, given proper response; serious
for unaccompanied children.
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Appropriate
Response: Hold small children, keep older children close
to an adult. DO NOT turn back on the lion, assume a
standing position-above lion if possible. Look for weapons,
display weapons, use an aggressive posture. Watch lion at
all times!!! If lion sits, looks away, or grooms itself,
this is not a predatory situation. Move away slowly.
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4.
Activity: Closer than 50 yards, hiding, intense staring at humans.
- Meaning: Assessing
success of attack.
- Human Risk:
Substantial
- Appropriate
Response: All the actions discussed already, plus place older
children behind adults. If a safer location or one above the
lion is available, go there. DO NOT RUN! Raise hands and other
objects, such a jackets, above heads as to present an image of bulk
as high as possible. Prepare to defend yourself.
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5.
Activity: Intense staring and hiding, coupled with crouching
and/or creeping towards humans.
- Meaning: Moving
to attack position..
- Human Risk: Serious
if within 200 yds.
- Appropriate
Response: Take all actions previously discussed. If
possible, move slowly
to place large objects, such as trees and
boulders between yourself and the lion, but do not lose sight of the
animal. Smile (show your teeth). Make menacing sounds;
throw things if lion is close enough to hit.
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6.
Activity: Crouching, intense staring at humans, tail twitching;
ears erect; body low to the ground- head may be up.
- Meaning: Pre-attack,
awaiting opportunity.
- Human Risk: Grave
- Appropriate
Response: Do everything already discussed and use whatever
weapons you have. If you have lethal weapons, take careful aim
and use them now. Pepper spray may be effective if lion is
close enough. If you have rocks or other items that can be
thrown, do so.
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7.
Activity: Ears turned so the "fur" side is forward; body
and head low to the ground, tail twitching, rear legs may be
"pumping" or "treading" gently up and down.
- Meaning: Imminent
attack, lion is ready to leap.
- Human Risk: Extreme!
- Appropriate
Response: Prepare to defend yourself in close
combat. FIGHT BACK. Make menacing noises. The
attack may happen within seconds. If you have any chances of
averting it,
it is by acting aggressively toward the lion. If
the distance is too great to use a stick, run rapidly toward the
lion until you can put the stick in its face and eyes. If you
lack a stick, run towards
the lion with arms high, making loud
noises. Stop before you are within striking distance of its
paws. Rapid movements toward the lion, especially from above
it, may still deter an attack. Avoid positions below the lion,
DO NOT turn your back on it or run!!
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