Mountain biker killed by mountain lion

  • Thread starter Dean A. Stepper
  • Start date



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Monique Y. Herman wrote:
> On 2004-01-09, Slacker penned:
>
>>Dean A. Stepper wrote:
>>
>>[for those of us that hate registering for sites like that
>>http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/news/010804_nw_mt_lion.html ]
>>
>
>
> All of the trails I ride on are part of mountain lion habitats. When I remember that little fact,
> I generally pick up the pace to rejoin the group. Guess that's a good thing.
>
> Signs around those trails ask people to call in if they so much as see a mountain lion -- I'm
> assuming that, if a mountain lion is forward enough to even come near humans, there's probably
> something wrong with it.
>
> These mountain lion safety tips may be of interest:
>
> http://www2.ucsc.edu/police/liondoc1.html
>
> As for your article, what a weird sentence:
>
> "According to broadcast reports, the lion was being persistent and kept trying to come back to
> claim its kill, possibly a female."
>
> I assume the article should read, "The lion, possibly female, was being persistent and kept trying
> to come back to claim its kill (the biker)."
>

When I was in fourth grade I went to Kansas City with my best friend to spend two weeks with
her divorced father and his second wife and their three-year-old son. And his secretary.
Very odd, in retrospect. Anyway, my friend's dad had a "pet" mountain lion, a two year old
female. She'd been declawed but had every last tooth. And she wanted that little boy. Ohhh,
how she'd watch him. It chilled my blood. I couldn't imagine how his father could sit there
in the same room with an a predator looking at his kid like that. She went for him once. He
was wearing a little cowboy outfit and waving his toy gun around, yelling bang, bang. All
that fringe, and a cat is a cat, after all. And she took him down. But he just flipped his
capgun around and started whacking the hell out of her head with the butt. And she gave up.
Let him go. Walked away and started licking herself, for all the world just like an
embarrassed tabby. Like she wouldn't have killed him at all. Although that was far from a
natural situation, I'd still definitely recommend fighting back, as opposed to playing dead.

Kathleen One of those memories that make you go WTF???!!!
 
Penny S wrote:
> Slacker scribbled on a scrap of paper:
>
>>Dean A. Stepper wrote:
>>
> http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=75251&section=BREAKING_NEWS&subsection=BREAKI-
> NG_NEWS&year=2004&month=1&day=8
>
>>
>>[for those of us that hate registering for sites like that
>>http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/news/010804_nw_mt_lion.html ]
>>
>>Damn, I can't believe that. I just rode there the other weekend... I love that little trail. We
>>were kicking at this one section, and I my buddy whispers at me, bro, check that out." I look over
>>and there's two deer out in broad daylight feeding in a heavily used section of the trail. As I
>>look closer, I notice a few more of them, the whole family was out. I thought this is really
>>strange and a little spooky. I told my friend, "C'mon, let's get out of here before we scare them,
>>not to mention they could be *someone's dinner".
>>
>>I thought mountain lion attacks on adults were very, very rare ?? Anybody have/know any info about
>>mountain lion habits?
>
>
>
> just the other day I heard a very interesting news report on NPR about lions in particular,
> especially in Boulder. It seems that they are getting habituated to people, and that in some cased
> they are starting to view humans as prey. There was a case cited in Boulder where a lion was
> stalking some teens for several days at a high school, and then killed and ate them. I may have my
> facts screwed up, but they were talking about a recent book that really questions a lot of the
> thinking on lions, and looks at how animals are changing their patterns with so much human life
> moving into their habitats.
>
> Penny
>
>
Just when you thought you were the top of the food chain. Sometimes I get nervous riding alone
around here. Its disconcerting thinking of yourself as prey. No one's been eaten around Boulder. A
three year old, left to hike alone, was probably killed by a mountain lion west of Ft Collins about
three years ago. A high school boy was killed while running near Idaho Springs about 12 years ago.
About 5 years ago a man was stalked near the Flatirons west of Boulder, but another person came
along and helped him chase it off. A friend of mine was walking with her two year old outside their
house in the foothills NW of Boulder, when he said "Look mommy, kitty!" they went inside quickly.
Definitely mountain lion territory. Never seen one though. Anyone know of a pepper spray holder that
mounts to your handlebars?

Shawn
 
Michael Paul wrote: <snip>
> Here ya go Slacker. Nothing that 5 seconds of google with "mountain lion attacks" couldn't
> find! ;-)
>
>
> from http://tchester.org/sgm/lists/lion_attacks.html yeah, yeah, I can't verify the credibility of
> the sources so it could fall under the "if it's on the internet it must be true" but the sources
> seem credible enough.
>
> In California, from 1986 through 1998, exactly two people died from mountain lion attacks, whereas
> in one year alone, over 4,000 people died in traffic accidents, including 800 pedestrians. This
> means that your car or someone else's car is ~2,000 times more likely to kill you than is a
> mountain lion. (A Detailed Calculation gives the ratio as between 1,150 and 4,300.)
>
> Over 300 people have been killed by domestic dogs in the U.S. between 1979 and the late 1990s.
> This means that your family dog or your neighbor's dog is ten times more likely to kill you than
> is a mountain lion and hundreds of time more likely than is a coyote.
>
> and for a complete list of all attacks in California, ever, see this page:
> http://tchester.org/sgm/lists/lion_attacks_ca.html
>
>
>
> Michael

I was going to make a similar point. No need to tempt fate by letting your child run around in a
known mtn lion habitat, but statistically speaking it would be very unlikely for something to happen
under almost any conditions. We are much more dangerous to us than they are.

I ride in an area where they have been sighted on a semi-regular basis. I've even felt that eerie
"being watched" feeling as I climbed up a narrow canyon with plenty of rock ledges and brush on both
sides. But there's also a ton of deer, antelope, and small game like rabbits around, so it's not
like they'd be starving. I just try to use some common sense and not worry about it. If I ever saw
one I'd try to confront it so as not to appear prey-like at all. I tell the Mrs. to do the same.

Matt
 
"Chris Phillipo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>, slacker7 @sbcglobal.net says...
> > Dean A. Stepper wrote:
> > >
> >
http://www2.ocregister.com/ocrweb/ocr/article.do?id=75251&section=BREAKING_NEWS&subsection=BREAKING-
_NEWS&year=2004&month=1&day=8
> >
> >
> > [for those of us that hate registering for sites like that
> > http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/news/010804_nw_mt_lion.html ]
> >
> > Damn, I can't believe that. I just rode there the other weekend... I
love
> > that little trail. We were kicking at this one section, and I my buddy whispers at me, bro,
> > check that out." I look over and there's two deer out in broad daylight feeding in a heavily
> > used section of the trail. As I look closer, I
notice a
> > few more of them, the whole family was out. I thought this is really
strange
> > and a little spooky. I told my friend, "C'mon, let's get out of here
before
> > we scare them, not to mention they could be *someone's dinner".
> >
> > I thought mountain lion attacks on adults were very, very rare ??
Anybody
> > have/know any info about mountain lion habits?
> >
> > --
> > Slacker
> >
> >
> >
>
> Maybe they've got a "Ghost and the Darkness" situation brewing there.
> --
Now that was just weird. I saw the movie, and it's supposed to be pretty historically accurate,
but WEIRD!

Michael
 
Benjamin Weiner wrote:
> Around/about one a year in California since the 1980s, most not fatal. The number may be going up
> as more people live and recreate in mountain lion habitat (and secondarily, because the lion
> population has returned near extirpation).

I think we should let the Mountain Lions build and operate tax-free casinos. It's the least we
could do...

T.C.
 
In news:[email protected],
Monique Y. Herman <[email protected]> typed:
> On 2004-01-09, Penny S penned:
>>
>> just the other day I heard a very interesting news report on NPR about lions in particular,
>> especially in Boulder. It seems that they are getting habituated to people, and that in some
>> cased they are starting to view humans as prey. There was a case cited in Boulder where a lion
>> was stalking some teens for several days at a high school, and then killed and ate them. I may
>> have my facts screwed up, but they were talking about a recent book that really questions a lot
>> of the thinking on lions, and looks at how animals are changing their patterns with so much human
>> life moving into their habitats.
>>
>
> Ugh. Mountain lion stalkers.
>
> Maybe this *wasn't* the year for me to start mountain biking ... in Boulder ...
>
> To make it even sweeter, if you're in a group, the lion will certainly go after the smallest in
> the party ... so if you're a typically-sized female, maybe invite a smaller friend that you
> wouldn't mind losing?

Or slowest...

Two guys out on a hike encounter a huge snarling and growling grizzly bear standing in the trail.
One of the guys bend down and starts tightening the laces on his shoes. His buddy says "Watcha
doin that for man, you can't outrun that bear!" He replies "Don't have to. I just have to be
faster than you!"

Mike
 
"Slacker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >> I thought mountain lion attacks on adults were very, very rare ?? Anybody have/know any info
> >> about mountain lion habits?
> >
I was pretty sure it was a m lion.
>
which means it was probably a rabbit! :)

At night, the smallest creature sure can make a lot of noise though. I don't know how many kangaroo
mice I've thought were predators when cruising along on a mellow evening.............

Michael
 
"Monique Y. Herman" <[email protected]> wrote in message

>
> To make it even sweeter, if you're in a group, the lion will certainly go after the smallest in
> the party ... so if you're a typically-sized female, maybe invite a smaller friend that you
> wouldn't mind losing?

I think it would be more important to bring a SLOWER friend and if you are in a group try to stay in
the main pack rather than lead the ride way out front or act as sweeper off the back end of the
pack. If you're riding a bike differences in rider size aren't going to be very noticable (Unless
you want to bring along children). Unfortunately cycling puts you in a semi-prone position which
makes you look a bit like a prey animal.

If you are seriously concerned about it then probably the best strategy would be to try and stick
to group rides and keep the group together. Most lion attacks have been on individuals or pairs
of people.

-- The Ogre http://ogrehut.net
 
Monique Y. Herman wrote:

> On 2004-01-09, Penny S penned:
>
>>just the other day I heard a very interesting news report on NPR about lions in particular,
>>especially in Boulder. It seems that they are getting habituated to people, and that in some cased
>>they are starting to view humans as prey. There was a case cited in Boulder where a lion was
>>stalking some teens for several days at a high school, and then killed and ate them. I may have my
>>facts screwed up, but they were talking about a recent book that really questions a lot of the
>>thinking on lions, and looks at how animals are changing their patterns with so much human life
>>moving into their habitats.
>>
>
>
> Ugh. Mountain lion stalkers.
>
> Maybe this *wasn't* the year for me to start mountain biking ... in Boulder ...
>
> To make it even sweeter, if you're in a group, the lion will certainly go after the smallest in
> the party ... so if you're a typically-sized female, maybe invite a smaller friend that you
> wouldn't mind losing?
>
Remember though, survival of the fitest isn't about being the fastest. Its about Not being
the slowest.

Shawn
 
On Thu, 8 Jan 2004 21:16:29 -0700, "Monique Y. Herman"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On 2004-01-09, Penny S penned:
>>
>> just the other day I heard a very interesting news report on NPR about lions in particular,
>> especially in Boulder. It seems that they are getting habituated to people, and that in some
>> cased they are starting to view humans as prey. There was a case cited in Boulder where a lion
>> was stalking some teens for several days at a high school, and then killed and ate them. I may
>> have my facts screwed up, but they were talking about a recent book that really questions a lot
>> of the thinking on lions, and looks at how animals are changing their patterns with so much human
>> life moving into their habitats.
>>
>
>Ugh. Mountain lion stalkers.
>
>Maybe this *wasn't* the year for me to start mountain biking ... in Boulder ...
>
>To make it even sweeter, if you're in a group, the lion will certainly go after the smallest in the
>party ... so if you're a typically-sized female, maybe invite a smaller friend that you wouldn't
>mind losing?

of course, you may end up being faster than a plumper morsel. probably hard to out sprint a
big cat tho'.
 
> "Chris Phillipo" wrote in message
>>
>> Maybe they've got a "Ghost and the Darkness" situation brewing there.
>> --

> Now that was just weird. I saw the movie, and it's supposed to be pretty historically accurate,
> but WEIRD!
>
> Michael

That was a great movie.

Hey, you never know. If humans can turn serial killers, why not animals.
--
Slacker
 
On 2004-01-09, Slacker penned:
> Monique Y. Herman wrote:
>>
>> Ugh. Mountain lion stalkers.
>>
>> Maybe this *wasn't* the year for me to start mountain biking ... in Boulder ...
>>
>> To make it even sweeter, if you're in a group, the lion will certainly go after the smallest in
>> the party ... so if you're a typically-sized female, maybe invite a smaller friend that you
>> wouldn't mind losing?
>
> lol !
>
> BTW, congrats on the wedding plans. Sorry, but a man eating ***** just reminded of the wedding ;~)
> -- Slacker
>

You're watching a man doing *what*?

What exactly is going on in your living room?

--
monique
 
"Mojo Deluxe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:D[email protected]...
> >
> > To make it even sweeter, if you're in a group, the lion will certainly go after the smallest in
> > the party ... so if you're a typically-sized female, maybe invite a smaller friend that you
> > wouldn't mind losing?
> >
> Pack a weapon in a shoulder holster.

This is a joke right?

Steve.
 
On 2004-01-09, The Ogre penned:
> "Monique Y. Herman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
>>
>> To make it even sweeter, if you're in a group, the lion will certainly go after the smallest in
>> the party ... so if you're a typically-sized female, maybe invite a smaller friend that you
>> wouldn't mind losing?
>
> I think it would be more important to bring a SLOWER friend and if you are in a group try to stay
> in the main pack rather than lead the ride way out front or act as sweeper off the back end of the
> pack. If you're riding a bike differences in rider size aren't going to be very noticable (Unless
> you want to bring along children). Unfortunately cycling puts you in a semi-prone position which
> makes you look a bit like a prey animal.
>
> If you are seriously concerned about it then probably the best strategy would be to try and stick
> to group rides and keep the group together. Most lion attacks have been on individuals or pairs
> of people.

Yeah. The people I ride with are both stronger and more skilled than I am, so I'm definitely slower.
They try to get me to ride in the middle, but sometimes I just don't want to feel pressured (not
that they intend to), so I ride behind. Maybe I won't do that so much in the future.

I've been riding along, a couple of minutes behind the group, when I notice cat tracks or scat. I
always discover that my legs can pump a lot faster than I thought they could.

--
monique
 
"spademan o---[) *" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Mojo Deluxe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:D[email protected]...
> > >
> > > To make it even sweeter, if you're in a group, the lion will certainly go after the smallest
> > > in the party ... so if you're a typically-sized female, maybe invite a smaller friend that you
> > > wouldn't mind losing?
> > >
> > Pack a weapon in a shoulder holster.
>
> This is a joke right?

Heh - I doubt it ',;~}~

Shaun aRe
 
"spademan o---[\) *" <[email protected]> had this to say
news:[email protected]

>
> "Mojo Deluxe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:D[email protected]...
>> >
>> > To make it even sweeter, if you're in a group, the lion will certainly go after the smallest in
>> > the party ... so if you're a typically-sized female, maybe invite a smaller friend that you
>> > wouldn't mind losing?
>> >
>> Pack a weapon in a shoulder holster.
>
> This is a joke right?
>
> Steve.

Depends on where you ride...
 
"spademan o---[) *" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Mojo Deluxe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:D[email protected]...
> > >
> > > To make it even sweeter, if you're in a group, the lion will certainly go after the smallest
> > > in the party ... so if you're a typically-sized female, maybe invite a smaller friend that you
> > > wouldn't mind losing?
> > >
> > Pack a weapon in a shoulder holster.
>
> This is a joke right?
>
> Steve.
>
No.
 
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