As you set out to enjoy a nature hike,
the bushes start to rattle.
And since it’s not a windy day,
that means you have company.
There is no such thing as a solitary hike
when you're in cougar territory.
And since cougars will stalk you
for a long time,
waiting for the right opportunity
to attack,
one could pounce on you
at any time.
If you're thinking of running,
you may want to think again.
Cougars, also called mountain lions,
can bound up to 13 m (40 ft)
when they're running,
leap 4.6 m (15 ft)
and sprint up to 80 km/h (50 mph).
And they climb trees too.
So you'll need another plan
to live through this attack.
And they're not small animals.
Cougars can weigh over 90 kg (200 lb)
and have razor-sharp claws.
With an estimated 20,000 to 40,000
mountain lions living
in the American West,
your nature hike could turn deadly.
While your instinct may be
to turn away from the cougar,
it could get you killed.
From the moment you see a mountain lion
or cougar kittens,
you should start backing away slowly.
Stay calm,
and face the cat without
turning your head at any time.
If you're unlucky,
and the beast tackles you,
fight back with all your strength.
And don't be afraid to fight dirty.
Try to kick it,
hit it with a rock
or smack it with an object.
Remember to go for the animal's eyes,
nose, ears and sensitive parts.
That will cause extreme pain in the cat.
Just ask Travis Kauffman,
who was running through the foothills
of the Rocky Mountains
in North Colorado
when he got attacked.
The 31-year-old heard some rustling
and the sound of a stick
snapping behind him.
He stopped,
threw his hands in the air,
and started shouting.
As the mountain lion lunged towards him,
Kauffman threw his fists up
for protection,
but the animal mauled his face.
Then his fight response kicked in.
As he wrestled with the animal,
they tumbled off the trail.
Eventually, he climbed
on top of the animal
and was able to pin its back legs.
Then he stepped on
the mountain lion’s throat.
When the animal finally stopped moving,
Kauffman freed his wrist
from the cougar's mouth and ran away.
Kauffman had been mauled
by a juvenile mountain lion
and suffocated it
in self-defense.
Running isn’t a good idea
when facing a predator
that moves a lot faster than you do.
Remember, a cougar’s primary prey
is deer.
Attacks on humans are unusual,
partly because cougars do not
perceive humans as prey.
And in cougars,
recognizing prey is a learned behavior.
Let's hope that the cougar in front of you
has not been around many humans.
The more humans that cougars encounter,
the more accustomed they become to us,
making them more familiar with
human looks and smells.
And the more familiar they become
with our looks and smells,
the more they might start
to identify us as prey.
If you see a cougar,
make yourself as big and fearsome
as you can.
Stand upright, and make yourself
as tall as possible.
Raise your arms over your head,
and keep waving them from side to side.
Make the cat think you’re bigger than it is.
And back away slowly.
This is no time to be shy.
Maintain constant, direct eye contact,
and take off your sunglasses.
Always look directly at a cougar.
It helps to portray a strong,
defiant attitude while keeping
the mountain lion defensive and engaged.
And remember,
cougars aren't the only
deadly cats out there.
Believe it or not,
one of the deadliest cats
could be living in your house right now.
Did you know your pet cat
could kill you with one bite?
Find out more about it,
here on How to Survive.