Cougar attack on one of my favorite hikes !

Cougar tracks are probably less likely to be seen on man-made trails because of their nature. While many animals will use the length of a hiking trail because of its ease of travel (lazy way out, raccoons, deer, boar especially), every cougar or bobcat track I have ever seen was made crossing the trail to get to cover on the other side. Just my conclusion from what I've seen.
 
I live just across the water from you (near Port Townsend) and saw a cougar myself while walking on a dirt road near where I live. It was running away from me, turned, hopped a 5 ft tall barbwire fence and silently disappeard into the woods....SILENTLY. It made no noise. Scary. My heart was pumping and my hand was on my BK5...

My neighbour has a game camera setup on the side of his barn and captured this last spring (I think?) and emailed it to everybody in the area. Not the same one I saw...coloring is slightly different.

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Eero said:
I live just across the water from you (near Port Townsend) and saw a cougar myself while walking on a dirt road near where I live. It was running away from me, turned, hopped a 5 ft tall barbwire fence and silently disappeard into the woods....SILENTLY. It made no noise. Scary. My heart was pumping and my hand was on my BK5...

My neighbour has a game camera setup on the side of his barn and captured this last spring (I think?) and emailed it to everybody in the area. Not the same one I saw...coloring is slightly different.

image002.jpg
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Scary stuff eh !!!! Funny ya mention the BK5 cos I was thinking the other day what knife would be a good defensive knife against animal attacks and the BK5 was one that came straight to mind.........maybe that's another to add to my wishlist !
 
onebagnomad said:
Cougar tracks are probably less likely to be seen on man-made trails because of their nature. While many animals will use the length of a hiking trail because of its ease of travel (lazy way out, raccoons, deer, boar especially), every cougar or bobcat track I have ever seen was made crossing the trail to get to cover on the other side. Just my conclusion from what I've seen.
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Yeah I think you are quite right buddy. Also while I'm not too shabby at spotting Deer, Coon tracks etc I think that unless it was a very clear track I'd struggle to tell a Cougar one from one made by a large dog.
 
pitdog said:
Scary stuff eh !!!! Funny ya mention the BK5 cos I was thinking the other day what knife would be a good defensive knife against animal attacks and the BK5 was one that came straight to mind.........maybe that's another to add to my wishlist !
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I have a lot of big blades but I like the BK5 the most. Strong and light. Not that a knife or even a gun would enable you to win a fight but by god if something is going to attack me I figure that I'd a least want to get a good jab in and injure the thing before I become lunch.
 
pitdog said:
Not noticed any tracks as yet but did come across this fresh kill once:

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By pitdog2010 at 2011-01-09
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I remember the post with that kill, Your hiking buddies will likely make it a chore, but you should check for tracks in the area next time you run across afresh kill like that.
 
mistwalker said:
I remember the post with that kill, Your hiking buddies will likely make it a chore, but you should check for tracks in the area next time you run across afresh kill like that.
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Looks like bear poop bottom left by the cedar twig. Hard to tell from a photo though. Seedy poop. I see a lot of black bears around my area.
 
Eero said:
Looks like bear poop bottom left by the cedar twig. Hard to tell from a photo though. Seedy poop. I see a lot of black bears around my area.
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From what I remember that was the contents from the Deers stomach, it was strewn all around the kill where it had been dragged.
 
That dog is very lucky. A mature, determined cougar would have made short work of him. They routinely take out 250 lb mulies. I would never take my American bulldog out in those woods, maybe two American bulldogs.;)
 
pitdog said:
From what I remember that was the contents from the Deers stomach, it was strewn all around the kill where it had been dragged.
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#1 Animal Eat deer

#2 Animal Eat what deer was eating. Makes sense....
 
I couldn't access the link, so don't know the details. Mountain lion attacks seem more frequent for sure. We've had two recently (this year IIRC) in Big Bend National Park. The most recent was on a hiker, but the first happened on the sidewalk at the Chisos Mountain Lodge, while the family was walking to the lodge restaurant. The father fought the cat off with a folder. Someone said it was a Spyderco, but I don't know. It just seems these are happening more frequently from Texas to California to Canada. Be safe.


http://www.nps.gov/bibe/parknews/nov-2012-lion-attack.htm
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/en...-Bend-mountain-lion-attacks-boy-6-3105934.php
 
SubaruSTi said:
A German shepherd or pit bull that's in very good shape should be able to hold its own unless the cat gets a really good pounce attack from a tree, they are nearly the same size and I think two large dogs the cat wouldn't even attack.
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where are you finding all these huge "pit bulls"? ive owned/shown purebred APBTs my whole life and the largest ive ever had was 55lbs. as a matter of fact, the biggest ive ever seen was at an ADBA show in sedalia, missouri and it was a 65/70lb catchweight dog. theres no way id recommend sending any dog after a big cat...teeth + claws
 
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