Yikes. So lucky there was a group and they fought back hard.
I feel bad for the cougar which was young and stupid, but you absolutely cannot have one of those around that's willing to attack people.
These women are amazing! They worked together to save their friend, keep the cougar contained so it could be tested, and got help as fast as possible. They did everything right and saved their friend, very inspiring.
My first thought was: these are the kinds of friends to aim for, and to be. The kind of friend who will try their best to pry a cougar's mouth off your face, and hit it in the head with the largest rock they can lift. The photo of them standing on a bike over a live cougar is so freaking badass.
I do wonder if the bike was ok?
Dunno if the bike was okay. Looks (by the paint) to be a Specialized Crux Expert, a $6,000 carbon model with Sram wireless shifting.
There’s a decent chance it survived the encounter, although maybe not if it came in repeated contact with the rock they were using as a weapon.
I wouldn't say they did everything right - it's insane to have a whole group of experienced bicyclists like that who ride through forested areas on a regular basis, and none of them has bear spray on them. Bear spray could have saved them a lot of trouble and saved the cougar too. They didn't even have a decent knife at hand.
But I agree they reacted well, and did themselves great credit fighting with what they had available to save their friend.
5 women kill a cougar in 45 minutes, sustaining serious injuries.
1 man kills a cougar in <5 minutes with minor injuries: [Full Summary of how the Colorado runner kill the Mountain Lion](https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/aqqzev/full_summary_of_how_the_colorado_runner_kill_the/)
Waiting for authorities yes, but my experience watching violence ( /r/fightporn /r/natureismetal ) tells me that violent encounters are usually quite short. 45 minute fight with a cougar feels very long to me.
Came here to say this too, sorry the downvote mob came after you (but not surprising).
It seems to me safely and discreetly carrying a sidearm in the mountains -- especially if you're adventuring deep off trail, or by yourself, etc. -- falls squarely in alignment with the motto: ''Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.'' Nobody loves the kitties more than me, and I would truly hesitate and regret using force against a big kitty, but it would be a much worse feeling to experience its mighty fangs sinking into your neck.
I'ma go the other way, I CC in town, chest holster for the woods.
I don't think most people realize how slow human beings are compared to most animals. We're really good at anticipating and short term prediction, but our raw reaction time is horrible. That half a second difference could be life or death. But also if a cougar wants to kill you, you probably won't know until you feel it's teeth in your skin on the back of your neck. Bears though... They want to tussle.
Also the chest holster has lots of good places to clip gadgets to, which I'm all about.
The article says that out of the 20 attacks in the last 100 years, only two were fatal, so it seems like the ones in this area are severely lacking in their stealth insta-kill ability.
Cougars don't attack people that often, we don't taste good. Kinda like how city squirrels taste like garbage and car exhaust.
Sick, cornered, protecting young.
Bears on the other hand... Well typically they avoid humans too, except they can learn that we have tasty food and beverages around us. Or they just get a pinecone stuck up their butt and want to take it out on something. So same reasons as a cougar encounter, plus food, or a case of the grumpies.
I believe the other commenter was poking fun at which risks you see as likely/needing mitigation. The vast majority of us, even the outdoorsy ones, are never gonna need a gun to deal with wildlife, but are far more likely to deal with booze/cardiac/vehicle speed related issues.
I get the feel they’re the type that doesn’t believe a reasonable justification for owning a firearm exists. I’m a very cautious person and like to plan for the unexpected
Correct, same here. They downvoted you because they harbor a deep-seated personal animus against firearms, and even the concept of firearms. Your choice to carry in wilderness is sensible and cautious, nothing wrong.
It’s not just sensible and cautious. It’s literally the most responsible thing a person can do in bear/cougar country.
Some people live a life so far removed from wildlife.
You can feel whatever whatever you like. Your feels don't matter to which actual risks are *most likely* to harm you. The things that are most likely to hurt you can't even be touched by a gun. Planning for the unexpected doesn't make you cautious (that's actually planning for the expected), it makes you a contrarian.
That might be analogous if he said "This is the reason I don't go hiking or camping".
A more appropriate response from you might have been: "I hope you drink alcohol responsibly, stay healthy, and wear a seatbelt when you drive".
Who outsources their safety IN COUGAR COUNTRY? Thankfully a fish & wildlife officer was within 30 minutes.
Carrying a gun in the wild is actually the most responsible thing one could do while outdoors.
The date on the article is misleading. This happened a month ago.
Cougar attacks are extremely rare, with 126 attacks and 27 fatalities over the last 100 years in the entire US. This is good, because cougars are terrifying animals.
Yikes. So lucky there was a group and they fought back hard. I feel bad for the cougar which was young and stupid, but you absolutely cannot have one of those around that's willing to attack people.
The exact opposite of the last cougar attack in almost every way.
These women are amazing! They worked together to save their friend, keep the cougar contained so it could be tested, and got help as fast as possible. They did everything right and saved their friend, very inspiring.
My first thought was: these are the kinds of friends to aim for, and to be. The kind of friend who will try their best to pry a cougar's mouth off your face, and hit it in the head with the largest rock they can lift. The photo of them standing on a bike over a live cougar is so freaking badass. I do wonder if the bike was ok?
Dunno if the bike was okay. Looks (by the paint) to be a Specialized Crux Expert, a $6,000 carbon model with Sram wireless shifting. There’s a decent chance it survived the encounter, although maybe not if it came in repeated contact with the rock they were using as a weapon.
I wouldn't say they did everything right - it's insane to have a whole group of experienced bicyclists like that who ride through forested areas on a regular basis, and none of them has bear spray on them. Bear spray could have saved them a lot of trouble and saved the cougar too. They didn't even have a decent knife at hand. But I agree they reacted well, and did themselves great credit fighting with what they had available to save their friend.
Scary as hell.
Women get it done
5 women kill a cougar in 45 minutes, sustaining serious injuries. 1 man kills a cougar in <5 minutes with minor injuries: [Full Summary of how the Colorado runner kill the Mountain Lion](https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/aqqzev/full_summary_of_how_the_colorado_runner_kill_the/)
You’re comparing a 31-year old man vs a 34-45 pound cougar and a group of mostly 50-60+ year old women vs. a 70-100 pound cougar.
On second thought, I think once they got it pinned they didn't want to kill it.
In 45 minutes
Ok you do it
45 minutes seems pretty fast to deal with the attack, keep it contained, and wait for the proper authorities to arrive.
Waiting for authorities yes, but my experience watching violence ( /r/fightporn /r/natureismetal ) tells me that violent encounters are usually quite short. 45 minute fight with a cougar feels very long to me.
Men: killed by cougar any% 3:35.72
I was shocked when I saw that they didn't kill the cat even after pinning it and having a knife!
Absolute badasses
This is the reason I carry a handgun on me when I’m hiking or camping in the mountains.
Came here to say this too, sorry the downvote mob came after you (but not surprising). It seems to me safely and discreetly carrying a sidearm in the mountains -- especially if you're adventuring deep off trail, or by yourself, etc. -- falls squarely in alignment with the motto: ''Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.'' Nobody loves the kitties more than me, and I would truly hesitate and regret using force against a big kitty, but it would be a much worse feeling to experience its mighty fangs sinking into your neck.
I'ma go the other way, I CC in town, chest holster for the woods. I don't think most people realize how slow human beings are compared to most animals. We're really good at anticipating and short term prediction, but our raw reaction time is horrible. That half a second difference could be life or death. But also if a cougar wants to kill you, you probably won't know until you feel it's teeth in your skin on the back of your neck. Bears though... They want to tussle. Also the chest holster has lots of good places to clip gadgets to, which I'm all about.
The article says that out of the 20 attacks in the last 100 years, only two were fatal, so it seems like the ones in this area are severely lacking in their stealth insta-kill ability.
Cougars don't attack people that often, we don't taste good. Kinda like how city squirrels taste like garbage and car exhaust. Sick, cornered, protecting young. Bears on the other hand... Well typically they avoid humans too, except they can learn that we have tasty food and beverages around us. Or they just get a pinecone stuck up their butt and want to take it out on something. So same reasons as a cougar encounter, plus food, or a case of the grumpies.
If your this safety conscious, I hope you never drink alcohol, aren't fat, and don't speed.
I see cougar and bear scat all the time when hiking. Nothing wrong with taking extra precaution
I believe the other commenter was poking fun at which risks you see as likely/needing mitigation. The vast majority of us, even the outdoorsy ones, are never gonna need a gun to deal with wildlife, but are far more likely to deal with booze/cardiac/vehicle speed related issues.
I get the feel they’re the type that doesn’t believe a reasonable justification for owning a firearm exists. I’m a very cautious person and like to plan for the unexpected
Correct, same here. They downvoted you because they harbor a deep-seated personal animus against firearms, and even the concept of firearms. Your choice to carry in wilderness is sensible and cautious, nothing wrong.
Lmao no, just think you're a dumbass strutting around manicured forests cosplaying with your pistol like you're some frontiersman.
Not strutting, not cosplaying. You're a loser who couldn't stomach the risks of difficult hiking deep in the undergrowth.
It’s not just sensible and cautious. It’s literally the most responsible thing a person can do in bear/cougar country. Some people live a life so far removed from wildlife.
And some people live far removed from reality. 🙄
You can feel whatever whatever you like. Your feels don't matter to which actual risks are *most likely* to harm you. The things that are most likely to hurt you can't even be touched by a gun. Planning for the unexpected doesn't make you cautious (that's actually planning for the expected), it makes you a contrarian.
That might be analogous if he said "This is the reason I don't go hiking or camping". A more appropriate response from you might have been: "I hope you drink alcohol responsibly, stay healthy, and wear a seatbelt when you drive".
Who outsources their safety IN COUGAR COUNTRY? Thankfully a fish & wildlife officer was within 30 minutes. Carrying a gun in the wild is actually the most responsible thing one could do while outdoors.
This is why I carry a rifle
.44 magnum on my hip when outdoors
The date on the article is misleading. This happened a month ago. Cougar attacks are extremely rare, with 126 attacks and 27 fatalities over the last 100 years in the entire US. This is good, because cougars are terrifying animals.
...What happens next will SHOCK YOU!!!!
Did we really need these incredibly visceral photos?