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Most folks who have lived in Humboldt for a long time are well aware that we live in mountain lion territory and probably even know what to do if you encounter one. But for those who are new to the area or maybe not familiar with how to properly deal with these large cats, Ian Keith – a human-wildlife conflict biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) – would like to offer you some tips to help protect your pets, livestock and yourself when a mountain lion is about. 

Keith reached out to the Outpost to offer his expertise after a mountain lion was recently spotted at the Fortuna Sunrise Cemetery. This particular sighting is what Keith referred to as a “no harm, no foul situation,” where there is a confirmed sighting, but no reports of the animal causing any depredation, such as killing pets or livestock or attacking a human, or any concerns that the animal may be injured or unwell. In this type of case, there is no need for the CDFW to respond to the sighting. “But it is good for people to be aware and be reminded that maybe [they] shouldn’t let their small dog or small pet outside without being there,” he said. 

Mountain lions, also called pumas or cougars, inhabit more than half of California. But because they are generally solitary, elusive animals, they generally avoid humans and coming into contact with one is pretty rare. There has been an uptick in reported sightings over the last few years, but Keith said that’s likely because of improved technology, such as more people having cameras and motion sensors, and not because there are more of the animals. 

But even though mountain lions don’t prefer coming into town, where there is a lot more noise, light and people than out in the woods, it does happen. There are a few factors that can lead to a cougar ending up in your backyard, Keith said, including the lion being young and an inexperienced hunter, or that the lions get pushed out of their usual territory because of natural factors like wildfires. But the most common reason is because they’re hunting deer and, as a predator, they go where their prey goes. The fall and spring are migrating seasons for some deer, which could also contribute to more mountain lion sightings during those seasons, Keith said.  

Though their preferred prey is deer, mountain lions will eat the occasional small prey, such as rats, raccoons, or people’s pets or livestock, if given the opportunity. For this reason, the best way to prevent mountain lions from causing trouble is to not leave out your tasty-looking animals to entice them. 

“Most of the [mountain lion] depredation cases that I see are goats and sheep that don’t have any protective measures in place,” Keith said. 

Keith recommends putting your livestock away in some sort of enclosure – like a coop or a barn – and bringing your pets inside at night. Fences are also an option, but they have to be tall, strong and away from trees, since lions can jump, climb and even manipulate wire fences with their claws. Another good option for livestock protection is getting a trained guardian dog, which can scare the mountain lion away. 

Another way to deter mountain lions is by using noise or visual elements, such as alarms or motion sensor lights. For people who live near wooded areas, Keith recommends removing the understory – the trees and shrubs between the forest floor and tree canopy – to eliminate places for the mountain lion to hide. This will make your area less attractive to a mountain lion, as they like to stay covered when they are hunting. 

And it probably goes without saying, but you should never approach or harass a mountain lion. In fact, it is illegal to harass mountain lions, as they are treated as a protected species in California. It is, however, legal to kill a mountain lion on your property if it is causing harm to you, your animals or your property. But you must report it immediately to the CDFW. 

If you happen to run into a mountain lion right out in the open, you should try to make yourself look bigger by holding your arms or an object over your head. You should make lots of noise and can even throw objects if there are any handy to distract or scare the animal. You should NOT ever turn your back on the animal or try to run away. This might make you seem like prey and trigger the cat’s desire to chase you. And you are not fast enough to outrun a mountain lion!

Mountain lion attacks on humans are very rare, but when it does happen, it is usually because the animal mistakes the human for prey. Again, it helps to make yourself seem big and be loud to scare it away and wearing bright colors can also help distinguish you from animal prey. Mountain lions do most of their hunting at dusk and dawn, so you want to be particularly cautious during these times of day. If you like to jog in the woods, Keith also recommends not wearing headphones or earbuds so that you’re more aware of your surroundings. And if your favorite activity is jogging at dusk in a deer costume, you should probably stop doing that. 

But there is no need to be scared of mountain lions as long as you stay vigilant.

“People should just assume there’s mountain lions around because we live in Humboldt,” Keith said. “They’re around a lot more than people think. But if they were really that dangerous to people, we would have a lot more calls.” 

If you would like more information, you can check out this document Keith shared with the Outpost, ”Preventing Conflict With Mountain Lions in California.” You can also visit the CDFW Human-Wildlife Conflicts Program’s website for information on what to do when you encounter mountain lions and other local wildlife, including coyotes, bears, bats and raccoons.