Friday, February 18, 2011

FFF: mountain lion, shmountain lion

As you know, most of our usual adventures have been on hold lately. And even though they've mostly been replaced by food and I'm cool with that, a life without adventure is... well... kinda boring.

The one adventure I miss most is our Saturday morn
ing hike with the cows. I miss chasing the momma cows. I miss eating the baby cows' pies. And apparently last weekend, I missed seeing a real, live mountain lion.

Uh huh. You heard me. Mountain lion.

I know this because a supernice lady named Dana sent my human an email about it:

Hi Amanda,

Mary and I frequently run into
you out at Wildcat Canyon. Today when we were out there, a couple of men told us they were about to jog into the hills by the water fountain when they came upon a mountain lion/bobcat. Mary and I just wanted you to know about this since you walk with your dogs frequently alone. We've missed seeing you. Hope you enjoyed the beautiful weekend!

OK. It was supernice of Dana to warn us about the lion, but she has no idea. I'm not afraid of lions. I'm not afraid of anything, really. Except maybe the sound tinfoil makes. That stuff is way scary. Oh, and hail. Hail is scary. But lions? Aren't they just big cats? If I can take on an angry momma cow, I can take on a cat.

I even checked with Google to make sure I can handle a mountain lion encounter. Sounds tota
lly doable to me.

IF YOU ENCOUNTER A MOUNTAIN LION...

BACK AWAY, BUT DON'T RUN!

Do not run from a lion. Back away from it slowly, but only if you can do so safely. Running may stimulate a lion's instinct to chase and attack. Face the lion and stand upright. Make eye contact.


SEEK SHELTER

Move slowly and position trees, boulders or other large objects between yourself and the lion. Do not lose sight of the lion. Be prepared to act.


DO ALL YOU CAN TO APPEAR LARGER

If the lion still approaches, make yourself larger than life. Raise your arms and speak firmly in a large voice. Show no fear.


BE MENACING

Give the lion a cold, hard stare. Show your teeth. (A woman attacked at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park may have saved herself by baring her teeth, growling and staring the lion down as it approached her). Make loud, menacing sounds, like yelling and growling.


IF ATTACKED, FIGHT BACK

Try to stay on your feet if a lion attacks you. Lions have been driven off by prey that fights back. Since lions usually try to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the attacking lion head on. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can grab without crouching down or turning your back to the lion.

Totally doable, right??

32 comments:

Noodles said...

Whoa!!! You SCARED me with your fierceness SO I'm sure you will scare any BOBCAT coming your way.
Love Noodles

Kellee the Caffeinated said...

Holy moly!!! Scaryness!!!! You guys be careful out there!!!!
I agree, foil is just weird!

Anonymous said...

Puglet--you sure did your research! YOU are totally ready for a mountain lion!

Nicole said...

Totally doable Puglet ! :)
You rock it!
XO

Two Pugs in a Pod said...

Erm...be careful out there, Puglet. And definitely, DEFINITELY be prepared to go poodle.

Anonymous said...

Be VERY careful... and we are glad to know that other pugs go nuts when tinfoil comes out. Our human thinks it's a pug only thing, as her old dude - English Sheep dog never paid attention to the scary tinfoil... both my brother and I go crazy whenever the tinfoil thing comes out!!Hate 'em !!!

Sammy

Barbara said...

Wow, you're scary! If I were a bear, I'd run from you!!

PS, who is your dalmatian friend? I had the best Dalmatian!

Anonymous said...

A warning to any roaming mountain lions out there: Beware of Puglet!
Great lesson Puglet! Yup, totally doable.

Licks,
Sabrina

P.S. You have to be the most photogenic pug going. Your human's talents don't hurt either.

I Love Lucy said...

Oh my gosh Puglet, this is so scary. I got the heebie jeebies just reading this. My mom is way freaked out. Be careful, we don't want you, Dutch and your human taking out the mountain lion population.

I Love Lucy said...

Hilarious! I just realized Puglet, that you are seeking shelter behind Dutch. You are an absolute crack up. Thanks for making my mom laugh, she was having a pretty stinky day.

holdin27 said...

Poor little kitty doesn't stand a chance Puglet, great Public Service Announcement. Maybe you should do one about not eating poo next...

Crabbie Chris said...

Wow, I almost had to attack you with your scary self! Hmmm, I don't think hiding behind brother Dutch will help any (I heard he's kinda wimpy). Besides I heard mountain lions love to read the Daily Puglet, so they would never dream about hurting you...now those poodles, you got to watch out for them!

DMBY said...

Don't tell Pug, but his 'menacing' photo kind of made me laugh a little bit. ;p

Suki said...

Hi Pug,

You would totally kick the mountain lion's furry rear end.

Thanks for the doing the research. Now I know what to do in case I ever see a big bad feline.

Hugs,
Suki

Massimo said...

HAHAHAHAHAHA! LOL!! I LOVE YA PUG! You are soo hilarious!

Thanks for the warning about the Mt. Lion! I go to Wildcat Canyon too! I will use all your skills and tact to defend myself from the Mt. Lion, if I ever encounter one.

Unknown said...

Oh, Puglet! I just want to plant a big wet kiss on your menacing mug.

xoxo
Scoutie

Foodie Girl said...

Hi Puglet! Love your Menacing look...very scary. My human was wondering if you have a flickr account. She'd like to see more "menacing" photos.

~Mookie

AllyB said...

Oh, my, lions? There is no doubt that they would be scared off by your tactics Puglet or maybe they would fall down laughing like we did reading this. Have a swell weekend!

Your fan,

LittleDog

Bella said...

Wow Puglet, you are FIERCE! I don't know what I'd do if I ran into one of those lions but thank you for passing on the Google's advice and the photos illustrating the directions. I'm gonna make my sister, Vizsla Luna, look at them with me so we can be prepared. Do you think there are those lions in the park where my mom and dad takes us? I hope not cause my mom is a fraidy cat and I think she'd prolly make me and Luna scare the lion away by ourselves. Ok, I'm gonna go practice my growl now....

Snorts and snarfles,
Bella

Anonymous said...

Puglet, this is one of your best posts yet. Top 10 for sure! Not only do you demonstrate the appropriate action steps to take, you act them out ferociously. I've never seen such display of acting skills!

Dexter said...

Thanks for the tips. I will keep those maneuvers in mind should I encounter a wild beast.

Slobbers,
Mango

Salinger The Pug said...

WOW Puglet! You are SO badass!!! I'm going to have my assistant/mom print these handy instructions so I can carry them with me in case I every run across a mountain lion here in Indy.

I guess one can never be TOO careful!

Thank you for this helpful and informative guide!

Love,
S-Dog

Pee S. Mom is laughing really hard right now...but I keep telling her this is NO laughing matter!!!! Sheesh!

Anonymous said...

I think you got your groove back. You are the best!

Deb and Daisy said...

Puglet you are the best! Just remember if you see baby mountain lions/bobcats don't play with them! Momma bobcat might get really mad and not be afraid of you! I like how you used Dutch as "shelter".

Isabella the pug said...

Oooh. A bobcat has been hanging around MY territory at MY house in Woodside. I don't believe its nerve!!! If the bobcat every comes around ME, I'm sooo going poodle on him. And if worst comes to worst, I'm gonna use your tips.

Isabella

Ollie said...

You are a true warrior pug! I would feel totally safe standing behind you-I mean next to you, in an episode of "When Mountain Lions Attack".
Seriously though, I suffer from cat paranoia. They scare the hell out of me. Have you seen the way their eyes glow in the dark?! And those razor claws? And that hissing sound they make as they stare at you with cold contempt...
I need to go hide now.

Georzetta said...

I feel you on the tinfoil noise. Packaging tape ripping is pretty scary too.

I haven't heard about any wildcats here but my friends saw some bear poo.

Be safe.

Annie pug

Molly in PA said...

Puglet,

You're the best. That is all :)

Great post!

XOXOXOXO
Molly in PA

Tweedles -- that's me said...

You are one brave pug and cute too....... what about a bear,,, do you growl back?
love
tweedles

Meredith LeBlanc said...

Totally doable! Thanks for the advice Puplet...I wonder if this works on people too...

Happy Sunday! Hugs & treats,
Meredith and Scarlet

Eagle The Pug said...

Will this also work if I encounter the elusive bobcat?

Oskar said...

Puglet, you rocked that post. Your pictures are pawsome!

I have a great blog I'd love for you to check out, www.PetBlogsUnited.com. It's a wonderful place for pet bloggers to find each other.

Nubbin wiggles,
Oskar