Just an FYI -- This is NOT something to be overly concerned about! There have been mtn lions sited at White Ranch, Lair o the Bear, Golden Gate, Alderfer/3 Sisters, Bergen Park, Apex, Mt. Falcon -- well, essentially at all our mountain biking trails.
Anytime that you go out riding, you must always be aware of the fact that there will be, not only deer, but other wildlife out as well. This IS Colorado and we DO live in the Front Range! That being said, there are a few thoughts to keep in mind when riding on the Front Range trails:
--- Ride in small groups when you can
--- Mtn Lions roam/hunt mostly at dusk or at dawn
--- If you run into a mtn lion on the trail, do NOT make eye contact.
--- Put your bike between you and the lion
--- Make yourself appear bigger than what you are (i.e. lift your bike up)
--- Make no sudden movements that will make you appear like the mouse your cat likes to play with
--- Do NOT run -- they will chase you!
--- There is debate on whether loud noises will scare the lion away or not....
That being said, just always be aware of your surroundings. There has not been a reported incident of a mtn lion attack on a mtn biker for many years and the one I remember was on a lone mtn biker over by Deer Creek Canyon probably about 10 years ago.
Thanks, everyone! If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to give me a shout out!
Friday, June 26, 2009
PSA: Mountain Lions sighted near Trails
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hmmm, you know I worry a lot more about the 2-legged animals than the 4-legged ones. I do a lot of rides alone due to time & babysitting constraints. One thing I do is choose a trail that I know will have a lot of traffic (I used to avoid those!). Seems like riding in a group is the safest, but maybe a busy trail is a good 2nd option.
ReplyDelete