Be mindful of the big cats
Courtesy photo Idaho mountain lions like this one are very common. Locals have reported seeing one near the Cataldo Mission while traveling the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes.
Recent sightings of a mountain lion on the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes near the Cataldo Mission have spooked some local residents who frequent the popular 72 miles of smooth asphalt.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game recently published some information about mountain lions as well as tips for locals should they encounter one.
Mountain lions are common in Idaho, but are typically reclusive and often go unnoticed.
Locals can expect to see mountain lions anywhere in Idaho, but the usual encounter is brief and can be only for a second or two before shrinking back into its habitat.
Because lions are territorial, young adults sometimes move into marginal, non-typical habitats, such as urban areas, looking for unoccupied territory.
“Most people in Idaho have never seen a mountain lion, but given the number of people who live and recreate here and the number of lions, there’s always potential for an encounter,” said Rick Cooper, senior conservation officer for Idaho Fish and Game.
Catching a glimpse of a mountain lion can be an exciting experience.
Enjoy viewing them from a distance and give them adequate space.
According to research conducted by IDFG, there have been 17 recorded fatalities because of lions in the past 118 years in North America and only one injury has been recorded in Idaho in the past 20 years.
That injury happened to be last year when a lion attempted to drag a 4-year old away from a campsite just east of Rexburg.
Fish and Game has these suggestions that may help avoid a confrontation.
- Do not run. Stay calm and keep eye contact. Move slowly and try to back away. Running away may trigger the animal’s instinct to chase.
- Stay upright. Do what you can to appear large by raising and waving your arms or opening your jacket. Yell in a loud, firm voice.
- Never turn your back on a mountain lion. Always maintain eye contact and face the lion. Convince the lion that you are not a deer, which is the lion’s chief prey.
- When you walk or hike in lion country, go in groups and make enough noise to avoid surprising a lion. While lions are not likely to approach humans, they are even less likely to approach a more threatening larger group.
- Keep children close and in sight at all times. Pick up small children if a lion is near.
- Never approach a mountain lion. Give it a way out.
- If a lion behaves aggressively, arm yourself with a large stick, rock or other object and face it. In the extreme case that a mountain lion attacks, remain standing and fight back with whatever object you have. Pepper spray is an effective deterrent.
If you encounter a mountain lion, immediately notify Idaho Fish and Game at 208-799-5010 or your local sheriff’s office.
An encounter would include a lion demonstrating any unnatural behavior, such as showing no concern for the presence of people or acting aggressively toward people or pets.