Though it may seem like an odd topic, what to do if you face a puma in the wilderness is important for any human being to consider.
Though the likelihood of encountering this big cat face-to-face in real life is slim, knowing how to react if such an encounter occurs can be the difference between life and death.
Plus, if you’re living in an area where pumas are common (such as Canada), knowing this information could save your life one day!
This article has everything you need to know about what to do if you face a puma in the wilderness.
If you see a puma, don’t run because of its incredible agility, a puma can easily catch up to most animals. That’s why it’s not advisable to try and outrun one.
Instead, stay calm, stand your ground, and keep your eyes on it at all times.
Keep in mind that pumas are ambush predators; they prefer being hidden or off-guard so they can immediately attack when prey is nearby.
What To Do If You Face A Puma
look for a stick (or your fist). fight it with all you got. pumas are in general afraid of humans and you should be able to scare it away, especially when fighting back.
Throw rocks at its face or eyes, punch or kick as hard as you can.
DON’T lay down and play dead – that will just make it more likely to attack you if it thinks you are unable to defend yourself.
Stand up tall and wave your arms
Facing a puma, in general, is scary, but if you want to ensure you get away safely, then it’s best to remain standing.
Firing a weapon and/or running only makes them more aggressive.
Stand up tall and wave your arms as well as shout loudly; anything that shows you are unafraid of their presence will help protect you.
They’re looking for prey that runs or cowers, so stand strong and be brave!
Rare encounters
While not all encounters between people and pumas turn violent, some do. According to National Geographic, attacks are rare but not unheard of.
Risks are increased for those who run into wild animals in remote areas or when engaged in activities like mountain biking or camping that put them at risk for bear or lion attack.
Experts advise remaining calm and keeping a safe distance from these animals when possible, as well as making loud noises to deter them from further aggression.
If you’re attacked: Attacks on humans by pumas are extremely rare, but if you face one in self-defense, experts recommend making yourself appear large by holding a stick above your head and being prepared to fight back.
Aim for their nose and eyes because they have weak spots that can help deter an attack.
Use bear spray if you have it
Bear spray is an effective deterrent and your best bet if you’re worried about facing off with a puma.
But if you don’t have bear spray, yelling, clapping your hands, stomping your feet, and throwing rocks or sticks will work in its place.
Make yourself seem bigger by raising your arms above your head and slowly backing away from it.
(Sounds like common sense but think of how cats stalk their prey: They creep up on them slowly until they feel comfortable enough to attack.) Don’t turn around or run away
This action can trigger a cat’s instinct to chase its prey–just stop moving for a moment instead. Whatever you do, never turn your back on it as that could be perceived as a sign of submission.
Safer with carnivores
When traveling in a wilderness, it is best to stay clear of carnivores. Even if you are an experienced hiker,
it can be difficult to travel safely around carnivores, especially if you encounter them unexpectedly or too close for comfort.
While humans and bears may seem similar, their actions can be very different.
For example, while humans might try to run away from a dangerous situation, bears might not feel threatened by your presence at all and may approach you instead.
Distract it with loud noises
Try waving your arms, yelling, or throwing rocks in its direction. Since pumas are solitary animals, it’s unlikely they will attack multiple people at once; use that to your advantage.
Once you’ve captured its attention, slowly back away while making sure to maintain eye contact.
Most of all, don’t run—running may provoke an attack! Instead, try to remove yourself from danger as quickly and calmly as possible.
Common mistakes while facing a puma
Human beings are one of a puma’s favorite prey.
When humans are in a forest and hear a movement or just get an ominous feeling then sometimes that is because there is something nearby.
More often than not it means there is some sort of animal which might be looking at you with hungry eyes!
So what do you do when you face such a situation? Well, that depends on how close to the animal you actually are.
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Conclusion
If you are hiking in Colorado and run into a puma, there’s no telling what will happen. Some hikers have a narrow escape while others die trying to escape.
I guess we will never know how it really plays out until it’s too late but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know how to handle yourself in an instance like that.
Knowing is always better than being unprepared for anything, even if it seems far-fetched and not likely to happen.
