The ability to view wildlife in its natural habitat is a true gift that can't be given by the local zoo. While mountain towns like Breckenridge attract outdoor adventure seekers and nature lovers, it is also lucky enough to be home to many animals, including mountain lions. While mountain visitors are extremely unlikely to meet a mountain lion, precautions should still be understood in the rare event that a sighting occurs.
Make Safe Decisions Early: Whenever you're setting out for a day of mountain activity in Breckenridge, take a few precautions that will help to decrease your risk of wildlife attack. Never hike alone. While mountain lions are not likely to approach humans, they are even less likely to approach a more threatening larger group. Children should always stay close to adults and never be out of eyesight.
Spotting a Mountain Lion: While they may seem threatening, mountain lions are beautiful and magnificent creatures. Tawny-colored with black tips on its ears and tail, mountain lions are one of North America's largest cats. While males can grow as long as eight feet and weigh up to 150 pounds, females are a bit shorter and lighter at seven feet long, weighing up to 90 pounds.
Mountain Lion Activity: As their name implies, mountain lions obviously make the mountains their home. While mountain lion danger is low in Breckenridge (your chance of getting attacked by a mountain lion is less than getting struck by lightening), sharing their home still means you should be prepared for a sighting. As with all wildlife, do not approach a mountain lion. Stay far away and give the animal an easy way to escape.
Taking Extreme Measures: In most all cases, your presence alone will scare off a nearby mountain lion. In the event that the lion does not escape, avoid your instinct to run. Running will increase the animal's own instinct to chase you. Stay calm and make eye contact with the lion. Avoid squatting or bending as mountain lions are more likely to go after shorter prey. In fact, do what you can to appear large by raising and waving your arms or opening your jacket. Throw stones, branches, and yell at the mountain lion in a loud, firm voice so that it begins to understand that you are not prey, but that you actually pose a danger. In the extreme case that a mountain lion attacks, do all you can to fight back with a rock, stick, jacket, or any other items you might have at your access.
Protecting Children: It won't likely be as easy for a child to control the instinct to run when facing a mountain lion. Similarly, since children are shorter, a mountain lion is more likely to confuse them for prey. If you are exploring the mountains with children and meet a mountain lion, pick the child up. However, try to avoid bending or turning your back to the mountain lion when doing so.
Contact a Park Ranger Immediately: If you come in contact with a mountain lion, immediately notify a park ranger to avoid further threat to others.
Remember, mountain lion sightings are extremely rare. Attacks are even rarer. Still, keeping yourself informed and prepared is the best way to travel through the mountains of Breckenridge.
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