This Is My Worst Fear

"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
05/21/2018 at 22:03 • Filed to: None

I am not kidding that when I go mountain biking at night, especially alone (such as tonight) I have visions of mountain lions attacking me. I think about what I would even do if I saw one, and whether I could ride faster downhill than one could run (no, no I could not) and then I keep pedaling and hope for the - wait! what was that rustling in the woods over there?!

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

One night I looked up the trail and saw a pair of eyes reflecting back at me. My heart just about stopped and I stopped; then I slowly got myself together, moved a little, and realized it was just a raccoon.

Another time, I came around a corner, again it’s totally dark except for my headlamp, and BAM, two eyes at MY EYE LEVEL RIGHT THERE - but I quickly saw that it was a deer. Still, it was 15 feet away!

So yeah, I was extra nervous tonight, as I rode up the mountain near my house. Every squirrel I heard rustling in the leaves was my imminent demise coming at me. Just make it quick, ok?

Yikes. I feel so bad for these guys, and their families, of course in particular the guy who was killed. At least it doesn’t sound like they were stupid about it, and one made it out, despite literally having his head in the cat’s mouth. Holy hell.

Sweet dreams, everyone!

DISCUSSION (43)

Nom De Plume > functionoverfashion
05/21/2018 at 22:07

Small solace, you wouldn’t see a mountain lion coming. They are a cat, they stalk, they attack from a place of hiding and normally from above.

Don’t ride your mtb at night alone and never at night alone with nobody aware of where you are riding and when you will be expected back.

Spaceball-Two > functionoverfashion
05/21/2018 at 22:10

This happened locally. The mountain lion was likely very sick as it is was fighting above it’s weight. Horrible situation but also very very rare.

wafflesnfalafel > functionoverfashion
05/21/2018 at 22:11

I’ve been out near where they were - first fatal cougar death in Washington in nearly 100 years. Kills one grown, athletic male, injures a second. That NEVER happens. It’s all just super odd.

functionoverfashion > Nom De Plume
05/21/2018 at 22:11

Well, there aren’t a lot of them around here, to say the least. And really, night is the only time I have to go. I’d ride 1/4 as much if I never went at night.

My wife always knows where I’ll be and when I’ll be back... I know it’s not the best, but it’s not much different from the daytime either. Also, where I ride, I never see people day or night regardless.

Still, I acknowledge it’s not the safest thing in the world.

Nick Has an Exocet > functionoverfashion
05/21/2018 at 22:12

Wildlife is no joke. Big cats are pretty scary. That said, it’s still super rare to even see one. If you see deer or raccoons around, you’re probably in good company. You need to be less appealing than them (which is somewhat easy).

I’m kind of surprised that none has made some kind of pop up decoy for these situations. Seems like their instincts would work against them.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > functionoverfashion
05/21/2018 at 22:12

Keep bear spray on your hip. My dad is from Red Lodge MT and my grandma used to carry a rifle, but when she got older she carried bear spray. Works for all animals, sure if it pounces on you you have to fight back first and maybe get a moment,but if you come across one and can’t scare it away, hit it with the spray. But it will most likely pounce, bite you in the neck.... maybe don’t go at that time alone.

facw > functionoverfashion
05/21/2018 at 22:15

If it makes you feel better, there have only been 4 fatal attacks in the past 20 years:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_cougar_attacks_in_North_America

Two of them were mountain bikers though.

Maxima Speed > functionoverfashion
05/21/2018 at 22:16

I always carry a gun when in the wilderness, even a hungry crazed coyote might do something crazy. A pistol might not kill a mountain lion quickly but if any shots hit it will give it pause.

P.S. I’m in the east so I don’t really have to worry about mountain lions...... yet. Coyote and bears though are a possibility.

DipodomysDeserti > functionoverfashion
05/21/2018 at 22:25

I don’t know what time these guys were attacked at, but if you’re worried about lions then riding through their pantry during dinner time is a bad idea. Also, if you’re in lion country and there are deer nearby, there’s also a lion nearby.

Keep in mind that less than thirty people have been killed by lions in North America in the last 130 years or so, so there’s not much of a risk posed by them. You’re more likely to die from a lightening strike.

If you come across an aggressive lion just remember to get off your bike and try to scare it. If you flee it’s going to catch you. Your best bet is to make it think you’re too much of a hassle.

I would love to be able to spot a lion while out hiking. Absolutely beautiful animals.

vicali > functionoverfashion
05/21/2018 at 22:31

Worked in the bush alone for years, odds are they’ve seen me a few times. I never actually worried about Cougars. Unless it’s sick or really young it’s not going to mess with a person. They are way smarter than bears.

DipodomysDeserti > Maxima Speed
05/21/2018 at 22:37

TIL that people are afraid of coyotes. That, or you’re actually a very small dog.

DipodomysDeserti > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
05/21/2018 at 22:38

Bear spray can’t hurt, but an aggressive cat will have already pounced on you before you see it.

BigBlock440 > DipodomysDeserti
05/21/2018 at 22:42

Coyotes have killed people, so have very small dogs.

http://komonews.com/news/local/kent-man-attacked-by-coyotes-in-his-own-backyard-11-21-2015

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/29/canada.singer.killed/index.html

https://nypost.com/2018/05/16/pack-of-wiener-dogs-mauls-woman-to-death/

BigBlock440 > Nom De Plume
05/21/2018 at 22:44

Yeah, if you can see a mountain lion, you’re fine, they’re not hunting you. It’s when you can’t see them that’s the problem.

cluelessk > Spaceball-Two
05/21/2018 at 22:44

They said it was severely under weight.

functionoverfashion > Maxima Speed
05/21/2018 at 22:45

I’m in the east too... it’s not an entirely rational fear.

cluelessk > DipodomysDeserti
05/21/2018 at 22:45

I find it amazing that they can survive all over North America.

functionoverfashion > DipodomysDeserti
05/21/2018 at 22:46

True it’s very unlikely. We at least get to see them live at our nearby nature center. They are amazing to see up close.

functionoverfashion > facw
05/21/2018 at 22:48

It’s a fear that I don’t let get in the way of rational thinking... so yeah. Especially here in the east it’s not much of a concern.

Spaceball-Two > cluelessk
05/21/2018 at 22:50

Last act of desperation

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > functionoverfashion
05/21/2018 at 22:56

I’ve seen several both in Northern California and in western Montana. It always shocks me when I run into one and I have the thought that I’m only supposed to see lions on the discovery channel. I do carry bear spray for the grizzlies and black bears. We have about one fatal bear attack a year in Montana. Seriously though a good medium to large dog fast obviously would help a bunch as cats don’t like to mess with dogs. Dog will just run along as you ride and that nose will sniff out any wildlife you can’t see.

DipodomysDeserti > BigBlock440
05/21/2018 at 22:57

Better start packing heat to protect from the neighborhood chihuahuas.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > DipodomysDeserti
05/21/2018 at 23:08

But at that point any weapon will be basically useless.

DipodomysDeserti > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/21/2018 at 23:15

A knife wouldn’t hurt. Plenty of people have stopped attacks by stabbing lions. And stabbing yourself is usually a lot better than shooting yourself. Lions are smart. If you fight back hard enough they’ll just find something easier to kill. They do this with bears. If a bear finds their kill, they’ll wait awhile, wait till the bear is vulnerable, then attack it. The flip side of that is they also might leave and try to catch you with your guard down which is what looks like happened to these guys. They do this with bears. If a bear finds their kill, they’ll wait awhile, wait till the bear is vulnerable, then attack it.

DipodomysDeserti > cluelessk
05/21/2018 at 23:19

Not just North America, either. They have the widest range of any non-human mammal in the western hemisphere.

Kinja'd!!!

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > DipodomysDeserti
05/21/2018 at 23:21

Yeah I said that.

DipodomysDeserti > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
05/21/2018 at 23:40

coqui70 > functionoverfashion
05/22/2018 at 00:01

It’s the circle of life ... just make sure you always ride with someone slower than you.

DipodomysDeserti > functionoverfashion
05/22/2018 at 00:05

I don’t want to see a wild animal in an enclosure. That shit depresses me.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > DipodomysDeserti
05/22/2018 at 00:11

For sure. The problem is that you might not get a chance to defend yourself, no matter the weapon, if they get you from behind.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > functionoverfashion
05/22/2018 at 00:11

And you mob reckon Australia is full of things that want to kill you. Mountain lion, bear, wolves, coyote and gun toting humans are things we just don’t have to deal with whilst we enjoy the great outdoors.

pip bip - choose Corrour > functionoverfashion
05/22/2018 at 06:10

whilst i’m sure he’d rather be alive, that’s going to make an interesting funeral service/wake.

functionoverfashion > DipodomysDeserti
05/22/2018 at 07:01

This place only takes animals that are, for any reason, unable to survive in the wild. These guys had their mother shot by a hunter, who then realized he had shot a female, and that she had little ones. He turned himself in and led Fish & Game to the pups (?), who reached out to places like this to give them a home.

Still, I can’t disagree with you.

functionoverfashion > pip bip - choose Corrour
05/22/2018 at 09:08

I can’t believe the other guy survived.

pip bip - choose Corrour > functionoverfashion
05/22/2018 at 09:10

survived, but then cycled 2 miles to get phone reception.

functionoverfashion > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
05/22/2018 at 09:10

I’m in the northeast, so I don’t think it’s enough of a concern to really warrant carrying bear spray. But I do always have a backpack on me with some spare parts, tools, and clothes. I could throw it in there, it’s better than nothing I guess.

functionoverfashion > pip bip - choose Corrour
05/22/2018 at 09:13

That’s pretty crazy. I’ve pedaled 6 or 7 miles with a nasty gash in my leg from my chainring, and it wasn’t pleasant. But that’s a FAR CRY from having my head nearly ripped off and my friend carried away by a wild animal.

I did a ride last year with a friend where we weren’t necessarily miles from phone reception, but often 3 or 4 very difficult miles from help, if one of us were to need something. We rode very cautiously in that area.

functionoverfashion > Nick Has an Exocet
05/22/2018 at 09:16

They are extremely rare in new england, to the point that their presence is somewhat debated. I do believe they are around, but it’s incredibly rare, here in particular.

One thing I wonder, is I have two extremely bright lights that I use at night; would they care about those lights? Or just come up from behind.

It’s worth reiterating, in any case, that this isn’t a really rational fear. I’m far more concerned about, for example, a spark popping out of my woodstove into the kindling pile and setting my house on fire. That could actually happen.

functionoverfashion > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
05/22/2018 at 09:17

I should change the headline: After My Kids Being Shot At School For No Reason, This Is A Fear I Sometimes Think About.

functionoverfashion > coqui70
05/22/2018 at 09:17

lol I am usually the fastest going up; but that’s not helpful.

Nick Has an Exocet > functionoverfashion
05/22/2018 at 22:15

Yeah, I’m not sure about New England. Though bears are a real thing. I grew up in Massachusetts.

Now I hike regularly in a place called Wildcat Canyon out in Richmond, CA. That always gives me some pause :D

Nick Has an Exocet > functionoverfashion
05/22/2018 at 22:15

Yeah, I’m not sure about New England. Though bears are a real thing. I grew up in Massachusetts.

Now I hike regularly in a place called Wildcat Canyon out in Richmond, CA. That always gives me some pause :D

functionoverfashion > Nick Has an Exocet
05/23/2018 at 08:56

It always gives you some.... paws?

/I’ll see myself out.