If you see mountain lion cubs, then slowly back away and look for mamma...

How long before this is on Rogan? He loves mountain lion stories

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

The guy did a great job keeping his calm but he should've backed off ASAP when he spotted the mountain lion kittens. At the start of the video, it appears he is walking toward them. Not smart! If there is a baby mountain lion, or a baby bear, then momma is not far off and she will defend her babies to the death. I've encountered many bears while trail running, and they have never bothered me. I dread the day I ever get in the vicinity of a bear cub. There's no way in hell I'm sticking around to take pics.

And, he should've stopped calling her "Dude"

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

When I watched the video I was like “Why are you walking towards the cubs?” When momma comes around the corner = talk about an OH SHIT moment. It was nice of her to give the hiker a six minute escort out of there. 🤪

Speaking of bears, I was hiking around Whistler once and heard some rustling down by the river below me. So I walk over to the bank and about four feet below me I see a couple of black bear cubs having a drink. My very first thought wasn’t look at how cute they are. It was I don’t see momma bear and she’s gotta be close by so I’m going to extract myself from the immediate vicinity as silent as a ninja.

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Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One

I know nothing about mountain lions. She doesn't look that big, but I'm assuming still very dangerous? Would she be big enough to kill a man?

My first thought was you're surrounded by rocks, start chucking. Of course the first one he throws thwarts an attack. What a dumbarse!

She’s still probably 80+ pounds. In theory, she could probably kill him if she wanted but she wasn’t hunting, she was protecting. So her goal wouldn’t be to kill.

Big teeth, big claws, crazy speed and strength. I can assure you that she would’ve fucked that dude up bad. Surgeries and hundreds of stitches.

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Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One

A really pissed off or scared house cat can put you in the hospital for a week. An 80 lb mountain lion could certainly kill you in the right circumstance. Beautiful animals but I'd rather not have an unplanned encounter.

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"They know f_ck-all over at Slowtwitch"
- Lionel Sanders

That was my first thought. My second thought was he played it correctly but not provoking the cat with rocks. He’s alive and without injury. How can you label him a dumbass?

He mentions in the article that any time he'd try to bend down to grab a rock or turn the cat would lunge at him. Also, the DWR officer said that bending down can initiate an attack so it doesn't sound like it's something you want to do unless you can guarantee to get the rock or maybe if the cat gave you some space.

I thought so too - but that's apparently a deathwish move - you can literally see it in the video the moment he bends down the pick up a rock, it pounces several times!

wow so crazy

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https://www.strava.com/...tes/zachary_mckinney

did you watch the entire video...the 3 min mark should answer your question. she would have him for a snack.

Lesson #1: don’t mess with a mama and her cubs.

I have some issues with this being characterized as “stalking”. As if she was hunting him as a prey source.

Take a close look at :19. He approaches two cubs in the trail and mama comes around the bend to make a clear statement about backing the fuck off.

This is an example of protection, not aggression.

Edit: reading the responses, I see we’ve figured this out already.

yeah

Perhaps it's the video, but she looks small, hard to imagine her doing much damage, but as you said at the 3min mark very quick, vicious and aggressive.

Imagine an 80lb German Shepherd with the agility of a house cat and 40,000 years of predatory instincts. Pure killing machine.

Hard to gauge her size but mature females average 120 lbs. If she really wanted to kill him, I think it would be no contest. Very strong, quick, big fangs and claws.

Note that mountain lions sometimes kill elk and moose weighing >1,000 lbs, and they do not hunt in packs... that's a solo kill.

I wonder how many times when a "dangerous wild animal" (mountain lion, bear, snake... ?) is acting aggressive and charging it isn't really trying to hurt anyone. Rather it's saying "get the fuck away from me!". But if the person being threatened has a gun, he shoots and kills the animal. Of course if he turns and runs he's probably dinner for three...

I like how the one cub was hiding in the grass in the middle of the road and charged right at the guy!

Yup, I think he made big mistake trying to film the kittens (millennials and their social media...).

I've had very few encounters with mama bears with cubs and moose with calves (hiking and backpacking/camping). The second I see the kid, I stop and back off (not to whip out my camera or phone). I've never had an issue. Mom usually makes a glance at me, sometimes a few times, then ignores me.

Yikes!

I have a 96lb shepherd and he destroys us when just casually playing around and being a generic doofus. I cannot imagine one of these pure killing machine with razor blades on all paws and in its mouth coming after me. I really don't believe a human would stand a decent fighting chance if it was truly attacking to kill.

Aren't there stories of one of these things dragging grown adults off into the woods from a running/cycling trail?

https://www.google.com/...1-Orange-2814215.php

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Proud member of FISHTWITCH: doing a bit more than fish exercise now.

I don't know if this is true, but apparently if you put a thumb up it's ass it puts them into a trance.

Works for me.