Solo camping with mountain lions?

I'll be going on a solo camping trip to Colorado later this summer, but I got to thinking about mountain lions. I know attacks are rare, but still... Anyone ever spend any solo time in the Rockies and run into a big cat? Would it be wiser for me to go with someone? And what about when I'm cooking food on my campfire - is that likely to draw them or bears to me?

 

Even people who get killed by mountain lions never see them…

 

You'll be fine, nothing to be worried about. You're much more likely to be murdered by another human out there than have a bear or cougar attack you.

 

Seriously,

take some bear spray, don’t cook where you sleep, seal all your food in airtight containers, hang it far away from your tent, stay out of brushy berry patches, make lots of noise and you’ll be fine…


or you won’t.

 

Make sure to empty all catnip out of your pockets.

 

You have a higher chance of getting shot by someone with a gun than attacked by a mountain lion.
More chance of getting in a car accident driving out here.
More chance of getting struck by lightning.
... and so on.

 

Wolverines are just nasty.

I saw a cougar cross my neighbor's property just last week and on Sunday hiking maybe 3 miles from our property a cougar crossed the trail right in front of us. No time to take a picture dernit. Wife freaked a bit.

Coyotes don't mess with adult humans much but we have them and bears. Any wolves in CO yet?

Badgers can be mean as well.

Pretty sure stinging insects and lightning kill more humans in NA than mammals kill humans, just saying.

 

You’re never going to see a mountain lion. You should be aware of black bears and take normal precautions. Especially stay away from a bear with her cubs.
https://www.thedenverchannel.com/ne...olorado-7-things-to-know-and-how-to-stay-safe
Supposedly no grizzly bears in Colorado, now those I have a healthy respect for and when I’m camping in griz country I always take a friend whose a slower runner than me.

 

All my years in the Mountain West never saw any Live Cats .

Being in Grizzly Country I had a few run ins with them.Most all but one was during Elk season.

Follow bear Country camping rules you should be good make enough noise on the trail those surprise encounters are exciting for both

 

I'll bet you make him carry the beef jerky too.

 

Wait ‘til you go to the Starbucks beside the yoga studio on a Tuesday morning…

 

@JKO1998

He can share his experience with cats as he's always tracking them

 

I use the trip alerts around the perimeter of my campsite for both cougar & bear. (& humans if needed).
They work off of shotgun primers, up to 126 dB. Kevlar trip line (have mil spec wire too).
I use both noise makers and noise makers w/ a flash (similar to our old "flash bangs" in the military).

The noise alone will scare away any critter on the prowl and will alert you to the fact that one is in the area.
The flash will do the same, only better!
Just set the wire high enough that ground squirrels won't set it off. And far enough away that if it's a skunk and he sprays 'cuz you just scared the mess out of him, that it won't ruin your night.

They are completely legal because there is NOT any projectile. Don't try to add a projectile either, -it won't work- nor is it worth it!
I used to make my own, but now my favorite source is from FITHOPS:
https://fithops.com/collections/perimeter-trip-alarms/products/209-cci-primer-trip-alarm-kit

 

camping with TE…

 

Bring a bag to store your food and toiletries like toothpaste and deodorant and hang the bag from a tree away from your sleeping area. The only thing you really need to worry about is seeing bear or cougar cubs. If so bunker down somewhere safe or quickly leave the area. Absolutely bring bear mace, it will be your best friend in case you have an encounter.

 

I have one of those for a front hitch cover!

 

You left out bring extra underwear for when those things go off in the middle of the night and you shitz your pants.

 

https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/LivingwithWildlife.aspx

 

Don't camp next to old cabins. Pretty sure I brought a ghost home with me this past weekend.