Spring time back country riding amd wildlife

[Pedal to the Metal]

If you are heading north or south, Humboldt, Mendo, King Range, Shelter Cove, etc. Wildlife that has an appetite is real. Not to sound boss or nothing but making a first impression when in close quarters with a Lion is a one shot deal.

Here are pics of a few locations of where I have had encounters. Sorry, No pics of the kitty, throwing rocks and having pepper spray available given 180-200lbs of hungry cat.

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/environment/article136009078.htmlView attachment 35739 View attachment 35739 View attachment 35740

 

[Pedal to the Metal]

Here is a google map link.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Mat...d8b1e!2m2!1d-124.1230133!2d40.2432341!1m0!3e1

 

[Dunedrifter]

Mountain Lion attacks on humans are actually relatively rare. If you encounter one, face it, wave your arms (appear bigger), and yell loudly. Don't turn and run. When they do attack humans, it tends to be smaller ones (women and children). Just carry a knife; better defense than pepper spray.

 

[TheWindAndRain]

I agree except the part about pepper spray, bear mace has longer range and is reportedly effective, you can also use air horns, or "bear banger" firework pens. If you are familiar with area laws, guns are also good. I've never had to use any of them on animals, despite several...unnerving confrontations with bears, moose, wolf. If a mountain lion were doing it I may shoot it, that sounds like more of an immediate threat and exceptionally rare encounter. Travel in groups if in remote Canadian locations. Most of the US is safe from anything dangerous, maybe excepting glacier national park.

 

[pcflvly]

A large grizzly stepped out on the trail I was riding in Idaho last month. He didn't even see me because he turned the direction I was going but it scared the hell out of me. I watched him walk down the trail for about thirty feet then he turned off and went into the woods. I waited to give him time to get farther away from the trail then rode on singing, my heart pounding.

 

[Dunedrifter]

I agree except the part about pepper spray, bear mace has longer range and is reportedly effective, you can also use air horns, or "bear banger" firework pens. If you are familiar with area laws, guns are also good. I've never had to use any of them on animals, despite several...unnerving confrontations with bears, moose, wolf. If a mountain lion were doing it I may shoot it, that sounds like more of an immediate threat and exceptionally rare encounter. Travel in groups if in remote Canadian locations. Most of the US is safe from anything dangerous, maybe excepting glacier national park.

Most of the US is safe from anything dangerous aside from other humans.

 

[Coywolf]

Negative on using air horns for bears, bears have been know to charge people that use them. They perceive it as a threat sometimes.

Bear spray is the most effective bear detterrant. Good luck being able to draw and fire a weapon at a bouncing grapefruit sized heart before the animal is on top of you. Hitting it anywhere else will just piss it off. Bullets have been know to bounce off of bear skulls.

The spray works very well for most animals, as well as humans, you can disperse a gang of scum fucks with a small squirt of that stuff.

 

[ResistMuchObeyLittle]

+1 on the Bear Spray. Good to have a knife for worst case scenario. I don't want any Bear, Cougar, etc that close to me.
Ive had encounters with black bears and one lion. Not fun.