Protection from Mountain Lions? Don't Even Mention "Gun"

[alucard0822]

I just can't get the mentality that would be offended by a mountain lion killing a deer ("oh, the poor deer--we must protect the deer from the evil mountain lions"), but is offended by a human killing a mountain lion in self defense ("oh, the poor cute kitty--we must protect the mountain lions from the evil gunnies").

These are the same folks that brought us dolphin safe tuna. People like cute cuddly dolphins (even though wild dolphins attack people often). People hate tuna, unless they are mixed with mayonaise between two slices of bread. I actually liked the pre-ban tuna better, every so often you would get a can that didn't seem to have that "fishy taste", kind of like winning a prize in a box of cereal, but in this case a tasty steak o flipper.

 

[saspic]

Hahahaha! Apparently the dolphins are just trying to protect their second amendment rights from wacko actors...

http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/06/12/susan_sarndon_recalls_dolphin_attack

Starpulse News Blog

06/12/06
14:21:36

Susan Sarandon Recalls Dolphin Attack

Susan Sarandon was nearly killed when she was attacked by a jealous female dolphin. In the 1970s the star was invited by writer Timothy Leary to interact with dolphins in a San Francisco, California, lab and she struck up a bond with a friendly dolphin called Joe. The Oscar-winning actress was enjoying holding onto Joe's fin when the mammal's jealous mate suddenly lunged, taking a chunk out of her wrist.

She tells PageSix.com, "After he trusted me more, I took hold of Joe's fin and we glided around the tank together. Then Joe stopped swimming horizontally and pushed up against me. I thought the whole experience was just groovy until I felt this horrible pain on my wrist, which was holding Joe's fin.

"I could hear them (researchers) shouting, 'No, Rosie! Don't!' I looked over and Joe's mate, this huge dolphin I hadn't even noticed before, was virtually standing up right out of the water, towering over me on its rear fins. She seemed to be 12 feet tall, emitting this loud, high-pitched noise. The attendants were screaming, 'We've got to get you out!' I was afraid I was going to get my other arm broken."

Later, researchers told Sarandon that Rosie's bite, which took months to heal, was a "warning nibble," and that "if she had made that plunge toward me, I would have been killed instantly as surely as if Rosie had been a shark.

"Apparently, an enraged, jealous dolphin is incredibly dangerous. What a way to die! Who would have believed it?"

 

[cpttango30]

My advice would be not to go hiking with this guy. What a maroon.

Man I would that way I could use him to keep the cat busy (With his short club or stick) while I beat feet and got the heck out of dodge.

 

[WVMountainBoy]

I quickly scanned the thread, and theres some validity to the arguements. To my knowledge carrying a firearm in CA is asking for a run in with the boys in blue, running is out of the question with a cat, and the idea of being able to fend off a predator of any sort with a stick is laughable. I was wondering why the idea of chemical deterents wasn't brought up. Cap-Stun or mace would probably be very effective against the cat's sensitive sensories. There are reports of Mountain Lions around here from time to time, tin-foilers even say that DNR is releasing them to help control our deer population. I've never seen any evidence of big cats here, plenty of bobs of course, but nothing that would snack on me. If I had a geniune concern about large predators I think I'd carry a can of Cap-Stun (potent pepper spray) in a very handy location (unobstructed by clothing) and try to stay to wider marked trails, that offer plenty of side to side visability. I don't think you'd have to actually hit the cat to ward it off with the spray, and heck, may even be that spraying yourself would be just as effective.

 

[alucard0822]

I don't think you'd have to actually hit the cat to ward it off with the spray, and heck, may even be that spraying yourself would be just as effective.

I know from experience OC spray works well against dogs, but in my case a warning burst in front of a charging dog while I was fishing stopped him, but it took a direct spray in the face to get him to leave. I would just hope that if I had to spray myself and a cat on my back, that I could recover faster than the cat. And it isn't one of those mexican mountain lions as discussed here http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=310757

if that were the case he would probably be happy that instead of a bland meal, I had, BOOM KICKED IT UP A NOTCH.

 

[macadore]

I have no experience in this area, but it seems from reading this thread that an electric cattle prod might be useful. All one would have to do is touch the cat and push the button. It might help get a cat off of you. Some animals are more sensitive to electric shock than others. Due to its thin skin and short hair, it seems a cat would be more sensitive to a shock than a cow.

 

[TallPine]

an electric cattle prod might be useful. All one would have to do is touch the cat and push the button.

I have something that works much like that, but it's not exactly electric.

You can push the button six times before re-charging it.

 

[Diggers]

I saw a show about Mt. Lions attacking people, very interesting.

One thing people who were attacked said is that they never saw the Lion. One second they were walking along, the next they were on the ground with a lion on them.

Lucky for many of these people humans are not built like deer, which Mt lions have evolved to hunt and kill. It seems lions often miss their mark, which is the back of the neck, on humans and don't kill people quickly so we are able to fight back...well sometimes.

One fellow actually took out his pocket knife and stabed the lion in the neck a few times, it let him go when it died from blood loss.

Most people who lived through an attack had help.

One guy was taken off his bike on an empty road. The lion didn't have a death hold on him but wouldn't let go so they just lay there in the road until a truck came along. The guy in the truck stopped saw what was going on and helped the guy. His quote "I never punched anything (the lion) so hard in the face and have it just look at me!" LOL crazy guy. He then picked up the bike and started to beat the lion with it until it let the guy go and ran off. Nuts.

 

[Havegunjoe]

We have spotted lions here in MN which was unheard of just a couple years ago. The trouble is they are quiet, fast, and like the author said they stalk then attack in a whirl. I would suggest that if you have the slightest thought that you may be in lion country the gun should be in your hand. Anywhere else and you won't get to it if attacked.

 

[stephpd]

mountain lions

We even have ONE mountain lion in northern DE. Was in the news a few years ago. Sptted several times just south of the PA state line. Even made it into downtown Wilmington. Never saw it myself but one of the guys I work with did see it. Said it looked like a big dog. We went back to where he saw it disappear into the stome drains and I saw the tracks. Definitely a big cat, not a bobcat or such.

We even had a cyote but spca came and killed it. Just no room for anything larger than a dog. Plenty of deer though. Animal huggers just love Bambi.
Haven't heard of a bear or other large game but will keep looking.

 

[macadore]

“I have something that works much like that, but it's not exactly electric.

You can push the button six times before re-charging it.”

Can you hit the cat when it is on your back biting your neck?

 

[TallPine]

Can you hit the cat when it is on your back biting your neck?

Maybe, unless I don't have it with me

I don't understand what the heck it is with your people that think that just because you might fail then you shouldn't try to save your life. BTW, the instant that I walk out my door, I am in cougar country.

There was a guy in AZ a few years back that was out camping and woke up to a bear chewing on his head. He retrieved a .38 revolver from under his pillow and proceeded to kill the bear with six contact shots.

 

[Diggers]

Wow my head would not like that.

I bet that click sound he heard when he pulled the triger the 7th time was real loud.

BTW, the instant that I walk out my door, I am in cougar country.

I live in San Diego. I can drive 15 mins east of down town SD and be in a known range of a Mt. Lion. They really do live almost everywhere. Also if there are deer around its just a matter of time, the lions will show up at some point.

 

[alucard0822]

I live in San Diego. I can drive 15 mins east of down town SD and be in a known range of a Mt. Lion. They really do live almost everywhere. Also if there are deer around its just a matter of time, the lions will show up at some point.

especially with the wildfires gong on, there are sure to be a lot of displaced animals wandering into civilization, I remember reading about bear attacks, and moose running through fairly populated areas after the yellowstone fire drove many out of the park, I wish you and your neighbors the best, and hope you stay safe.

 

[MD_Willington]

Not supposed to hike on Vancouver Island.. man no one told me that... I only lived there from 1976 to 2000... I must be one of the lucky ones... LOL

 

[gunsmith]

CA is a bastion of common sense compared to NJ/NY

Hey you guys, only a tiny part of CA (the bay area and so cal coastal areas)
are anti gun.
In most of the National Forest in CA you can open carry your gun at your campsite.
Thats better then a lot of States!

 

[macadore]

”I don't understand what the heck it is with your people that think that just because you might fail then you shouldn't try to save your life.”

That’s not what I meant to imply. There are some self defense situations where a firearm is not the best tool. I would want the cat to break off the attack immediately rather than waiting for it out bleed out while is chewing my spinal cord. If I accidentally shock myself with the cattle prod, I can always release the button and try again. Handguns tend to be less forgiving.

 

[Erik]

FIREARMS!!! I meant FIREARMS!!!!



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