BOZEMAN — Barbara Frangos and her daughter Maisy are visiting Montana for the first time. As they made their way up the “M” trail, wildlife safety was already on their minds.
“I am concerned, but I just want to be more safe if anything,” said Barbara. "First hike, we have several planned. We figure this is the most populated one and hopefully the safest."
On Sunday, a Facebook post from a Bozeman woman garnered hundreds of reactions after she claimed she saw a mountain lion during her morning hike at the “M.” That sparked the question: just how rare is it to see one of these stealthy big cats?
WATCH THE VIDEO:
To find out, I talked with Morgan Jacobsen, the information officer for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.
“It is quite unique to be able to see one, and it doesn't happen every day,” Jacobsen said.
Still, Jacobsen added that encountering wildlife in Montana—especially while recreating outdoors—isn’t unusual.
“Anytime you're out recreating, especially in the mountains, there's a potential to encounter mountain lions while you’re out there.”
While they’re a far cry from your average house cat, Barbara said other animals worry her more.
“I am definitely more scared of a bear than a mountain lion.”
According to Jacobsen, that instinct checks out.
“We see most close conflict encounters with bears and moose, and even otters, than we do with mountain lions,” he said.
Mountain lions aren’t just being spotted in the backcountry, either.
Despite what it looks like, I wasn’t in the wilderness during part of my report—I was in the Harvest Creek neighborhood, where a mountain lion was recently caught on camera by a Ring doorbell.
Several neighbors have reported sightings of the big cat roaming around backyards. Whether or not this is the same mountain lion seen at the “M” is unknown, but Jacobsen says movement like this isn’t unusual.
“They are pretty mobile, it’s not uncommon for them to be passing through. Just like bears that we have in town as well.”
So, what should you do if you come face-to-face with a mountain lion?
“If you do encounter a mountain lion, don't run from it. Mountain lions are predators, so running can trigger a chase instinct,” Jacobsen explained. “Make noise, act big, use bear spray if you're close enough.”
Whether it’s a moose, a bear, or a mountain lion, encountering wildlife is just part of life in the Treasure State.
“We are lucky that we get to have encounters with wildlife in a variety of ways,” Jacobsen said. “Just being prepared and taking steps for your own safety goes a long way toward avoiding conflicts.”
The National Park Service provides the following guidelines if you encounter a mountain lion:
- Do not approach a lion. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
- Do not run from a lion. Running may stimulate a mountain lion's instinct to chase. Instead, stand and face the animal. Make eye contact. If you have small children with you, pick them up if possible so that they don't panic and run. Although it may be awkward, pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.
- Do not crouch down or bend over. A human standing up is just not the right shape for a lion's prey. Conversely, a person squatting or bending over resembles a four-legged prey animal. In mountain lion country, avoid squatting, crouching or bending over, even when picking up children.
- Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you are wearing one. Again, pick up small children. Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. The idea is to convince the mountain lion that you are not prey and that you may be a danger to it.
- Fight back if attacked. A hiker in southern California used a rock to fend off a mountain lion that was attacking his son. Others have fought back successfully with sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools and their bare hands. Since a mountain lion usually tries to bite the head or neck, try to remain standing and face the attacking animal
- Bear Spray. Carry bear spray with you while hiking. Although it is called “bear” spray, the pepper powder will work on just about any wild or domestic animal that attacks.
From the Montana Field Guide:
A large cat with an elongate body, powerful limbs, small head, short face, short rounded ears, long neck and long, round, black-tipped tail.
Two color phases: buff, cinnamon, and tawny to cinnamon rufous and ferruginous, and silvery gray to bluish and slaty gray; young are buffy with dark spots, and the eyes are blue for the first few months; color of upperparts is most intense midorsally; sides of muzzle and backs of ears are black; underparts are dull whitish with buff wash across the belly; end of tail is dark brown or blackish; adult total length 171 to 274 cm in males, 150 to 233 cm in females; adult tail length 53 to 81 cm; greatest length of skull 172 to 237 mm in males, 158 to 203 mm in females.
Eyes set forward on head for sight hunting. Adult males weigh 150 to 190 lbs., females 70 to 120 lbs. Solitary, except for females accompanied by males or kittens. Females den in caves, rock crevices, brush piles, etc. with kittens and leave them there while hunting; usually hunt by stealth at night and cover unused food for later use. Males territorial, and large male home ranges may overlap smaller ones of females.
Residents should report any possible mountain lion sightings immediately to law enforcement or to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.
