Human Voices Scare Mountain Lions
Mountain lions run from the sound of human voices, and subsequently tend to avoid the area. This is not news, but it's nice to have hard data regarding the well-known tendency of mountain lions to avoid humans.
Unlike most studies, this produces immediately actionable information:
1) If you are in an area with mountain lions, and your activity does not rely on silence, talking will notify the cats of your approach so you may avoid conflict.
2) If a mountain lion confronts you or yours, yell at it. Waving your arms or spreading your coat to enlarge your appearance have also been recommended. They are smallish for apex predators, and a ferocious display of dominance has been known to make them back down.
Unlike most studies, this produces immediately actionable information:
1) If you are in an area with mountain lions, and your activity does not rely on silence, talking will notify the cats of your approach so you may avoid conflict.
2) If a mountain lion confronts you or yours, yell at it. Waving your arms or spreading your coat to enlarge your appearance have also been recommended. They are smallish for apex predators, and a ferocious display of dominance has been known to make them back down.