Survivalist Feels Honored To Come Face-To-Face With A Mountain Lion
There are an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 mountain lions still living in the United States, primarily living in the western half of the country. Human population growth, poaching, hunting, development, pollution, and habitat loss all threaten their numbers. Spotting one in the wild is a rare occurrence, and while they might seem intimidating, many people are honored to see a mountain lion in the wild.
Wilderness skills instructor Callie Russell, who participate on Season 7 of the the show Alone, is one of those people. When she came face-to-face with a mountain lion in a tree, she explained how much gratitude she had for the moment.
“There was a time, long ago, when I was afraid of the large wild predators, mostly when I slept in wild places by myself, with no tent, or anything separating me from them, over the years, I have had several close encounters with mountain lions, bears, and wolves, and now I do not have any fear for them, just deep reverence and respect. It feels like a gift to be in their presence.” – Callie Russell
Encounters are incredible rare and attacks are even less common, but it’s important that anyone recreating in mountain lion country have an understanding of what to do if they happen to spot one of these big cats. If you see a mountain lion, stay calm, do not approach the animal, do not run, and do not crouch or bend over. Stand and face the animal, make eye contact, and give it a way to escape the encounter.
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