If you tree or even chase a few cats with the hounds, kill a few, then the cats are gonna retreat to the hills.
I'm no tree-hugger or eco-muffin but like it or not, acknowledge it or not, fact is that there are fewer and fewer places with adequate prey populations that major predators (mountain lion, bear, wolves) can retreat to and survive. We expand our communities and they get squeezed.
We've got the same Mountain Lion vs. Man problem here in Colorado. Lots of people living in new "Mountain Home Communities" amazed and outraged when their pets end up as cougar snacks. Lots of hikers demanding that the Division of Wildlife "do something" to make trails safe. Tragic case a couple of years ago where a child was taken near Red Feathers Lakes and another where a jogger was taken near Idaho Springs.
I'll start out by saying that I understand that for some of you carrying a firearm into the hills/park/forest isn't an option. Lots of talk about spears and such here so I'll acknowle that anything at all is better than nothing.
However, any of you every had to deal with a truely angry cat??? If so, you probably still have scars and understand where I'm going in considering a 100lb version of "Fluffy".
If you haven't had that experience yet, I have a little experiment for you. Drive out into the country and find a farmer that has a bunch of wild cats in his barn or around the place. Ask the farmer if you can catch one by hand. When he stops laughing he'll probably go get his first-aid kit and ask if he can watch the mayhem. When (if) you manage to get your hands on one you'll quickly find out what pure evil and lightning speed with teeth and claws is all about.
Now, multiply that little ball of pure hell and fury times the 100lbs or so that a Mountain Lion represents, add in the skill acquired by daily hunting, and you can imagine the situation one would be in when a Mountain Lion goes into chase/kill mode. People often just don't appreciate just how fast a big cat can move or how strong they are. Do you REALLY want to try to take one on with a spear??
I'll stick with at least a sidearm when I'm in mountain lion range, thank you very much!!
BTW, if you choose to take me up on my little experiment.......we want video so we can have some laughs too!!