[the Zachster]

Last week there was a cougar attack on a hiker in Banff (Rockbound trailhead). It jumped out of a tree onto a solo hiker. Fortunately, he was able to fight it off and his only injuries were from being knocked to the ground and falling down a hill. The cougar wasn't located and the area is now closed. I was on a hike just a few miles down the road at the time. You can bet I spent the rest of my hiking vacation looking up in the trees... We were carrying bear spray but honestly, I doubt that it could be deployed in a cougar attack as they tend to attack stealthily and from behind. Personally, I think being acutely aware of sights and sounds is an extremely important aspect of defensiveness and it's much harder to do that when you're biking, traveling with others or using ipods. Fortunately, so far, the facts say that it's still a very rare occurrence. Time will tell if that remains the case.

[Cyclopath]

I eat oranges when I hike in cougar country.

[Dave Workman]

[Dave Workman]

[Dave Workman]

[Dave Workman]

[RumiDude]

[Brucester]

[Dave Workman]

[altasnob]

[treeswarper]

Here is the account told on a Go Fund Me Page. https://www.gofundme.com/f/keris-ride-to-recovery?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_content=facebook_cta_control&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

[Dave Workman]

[treeswarper]

It was Wimmin folk who held the cat down. So,is it just a fluke that I worked daily in the woods and never had a bad wildlife run in? There were two almosts with bears, but the bears took off when things looked to be getting a bit more serious. I almost stepped on an elk in thick brush, she took off one way, I took off the other. We were both startled. I have been attacked by a grouse or two and stung by bees (bees is a generic word). On one winter day, I followed my tracks back to the truck and saw big kitty tracks on top of my old tracks. Another time, seeing fresh bear poop and freshly girdled saplings, I changed my work plan. Had another grouse fall in love with my pickup and chase it down the road. Saw wolves in Wisconsin but they were usually on the run although one logger was watched and stalked one day enough to put his dog in the cab of the processor with him. I do support hunting. It usually keeps critters afraid of people.

[Chief Joseph]

[treeswarper]

Also, when I think of "everybody" packing in the woods, it scares me. I've had a couple of run ins with unsafe shooters while working. There's nothing like coming around a corner to see a target set up and folks getting ready to shoot in your direction --No backstop. Then there's the Walupt Lake East Lewis County shooting.