Stay Silent or Alert Your Presence

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

Per my triplog, I had heard a loud call near Collom Mine at dusk.

At the time, I thought it might be a bird in the trees.

However, I found a video of mountain lion calls.

That's what I heard at Collom.

More worrisome, the sniffing at 0:46 is also what I heard outside my tent, near my head at 2:30 in the morning.

When I heard the first call at dusk, I asked in a loud voice "What kind of animal are you?"

Which brings me to a question: Is it better to stay silent and not announce your presence, in hope that a wild animal doesn't randomly come across you later? Or is it better to alert them of your presence, in which case they might come by to investigate later?

I've wondered this about bears too. I mean, if you see them but they don't see you, and if they aren't coming your way, or busy eating berries, it seems like you've increased the chance of a confrontation by saying "Hey, Bear!"

[SuperstitionGuy]

I don't know about Mtn. Lions or Bears but those Ring Tailed Cats that are after your goodies in the Sups will only leave after getting hit with a well througn small rock! Not enough to hurt them but enough to discourge them.

[TooOld2Hike_EP]

@SuperstitionGuy
I saw a video where a guy was walking backward as a mountain lion approached him from the front. (Which I thought was odd on its face. I thought mountain lions attacked from behind.)

Anyway, after about 15 seconds of this and the cat not backing away, he shot at it from about 15 feet. I don't think he hit it. But I was surprised that it didn't immediately run. It halted and thought about it for a while before finally wandered off.

Rather tenacious. No fear of man. (Update: Rabies? But it wasn't foaming at the mouth that I could see.)

[rcorfman]

Just stay home and lock your doors.