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Pepper Spray v.s. Mountain Lions


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Home Forums General Forums General Lightweight Backpacking Discussion Pepper Spray v.s. Mountain Lions

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Viewing 21 posts - 1 through 21 (of 21 total)
  • Author
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  • #1286856
    Art …
    BPL Member

    @asandh

    I always assumed that pepper spray would work against mountain lions, but someone recently suggested … not.

    What do you animal experts out there think ?

    #1851105
    Scott S
    Member

    @sschloss1

    Locale: New England

    My understanding is that mountain lions generally attack from behind (they aim first for the back of the neck so they can paralyze their pray). I doubt that pepper spray will do you much good if a mountain lion jumps you from behind.

    #1851108
    Art …
    BPL Member

    @asandh

    yes, living in mountain lion country, I understand their methods.
    but should the opportunity arise would the spray work ?

    #1851120
    EndoftheTrail
    BPL Member

    @ben2world-2

    Read this.

    #1851125
    John Nausieda
    BPL Member

    @meander

    Locale: PNW

    Maybe it will work on Santorum and Romney too.

    #1851127
    Art …
    BPL Member

    @asandh

    thanks Ben, good info.
    although I had the smaller, wimpier, more urban container in mind.
    carrying bear spray on a run is a bit heavy,
    but good to know it at least can work.

    #1851133
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    mountain lion

    Awww, guys, you wouldn't shoot pepper spray at a nice pussycat like this, would you?

    –B.G.–

    #1851162
    Mobile Calculator
    Spectator

    @mobile-calculator

    .

    #1851749
    Mike M
    BPL Member

    @mtwarden

    Locale: Montana

    Art- I replied in our training log thread, but yes it appears to be effective for lions. Our lion biologist was tagging kittens when mama came back and didn't appreciate the hounds there- she came in twice, each time she got a blast of pepper spray, she didn't come in a third time :)

    Mike

    #1851751
    John S.
    BPL Member

    @jshann

    vs. a stabbing tool.

    #1852024
    Eric Blumensaadt
    BPL Member

    @danepacker

    Locale: Mojave Desert

    Whsn I vist my daungter in Boulder I do training hikes in the Flatirons & I always carry holstered BEAR pepper spray becuse there are also bear in that area.

    There have been lion attacks around the Flatirons area so for me it's just prudent to carry it. Better than nothing.

    #1852261
    HkNewman
    BPL Member

    @hknewman

    Locale: The West is (still) the Best

    There was a write up where it was successfully tested against big African cat species, so doubt american felines are that different. Still kind if dicey. Glad someone else is playing tasty human to bring us this data.

    #1852346
    James holden
    BPL Member

    @bearbreeder-2

    better than nothing … of course BPL positive thinking means that youll never run into a bear or kitty cat that wont run away first … cause we all know that those cute critters would never make you carry a few extra ozs to ruin yr SUL base weight ;)

    #1852383
    Mike M
    BPL Member

    @mtwarden

    Locale: Montana

    carry it in your hand, it's not base weight :)

    #1852447
    David Olsen
    Spectator

    @oware

    Locale: Steptoe Butte

    Keyboard commando here.

    A few have fought off cougar by poking or hitting them with an object.

    Pen
    Water bottle
    Forceps

    It would appear that if they don't kill their prey with a quick bite to the neck,
    they don't have a lot of interest in getting hurt. Pepper spray should work for that.

    Often it is a fellow outdoors person that dissuades the lion with some sort of object.

    Around here where their are lions and bears and wolves, oh my, people carry
    pepper spray, sheath knives or firearms.

    I know of 4 people that killed lions that charged them while they were stand hunting
    for deer or turkey while using a call.

    #1852564
    Bryce
    BPL Member

    @antigroundhogday

    Locale: Stamford, CT

    Sorry to thread-jack…

    HK, trying to get a hold of you to to chat about a Santa Fe hike next week but you don't have an email or private message enabled.

    If you have time to chat pls email me at bster13 at yahoo dot com.

    Thanks!

    #1854569
    Josh Leavitt
    BPL Member

    @joshleavitt

    Locale: Ruta Locura

    Last time a lion came after me, I just ignored him, and he went away :-) The key is to not realize its a lion on the other side of the that silnylon, makes it much easier to ignore them.

    I spoke with some wildlife biologists in Wyoming that had successfully used pepper spray on lions, sounds pretty effective.

    #1858971
    Ron White
    Spectator

    @roddyrat

    Locale: Southern Indiana

    But if you only have a small can of the spray, just spray yourself with it. Then hope that the cat doesn't like spicy food! LOL

    #1858981
    P. Larson
    Member

    @reacttocontact

    Pepper Spray? It's what seasons my dinner.

    Kitty

    #1858982
    P. Larson
    Member

    @reacttocontact

    Personally, these work quite well. They reside in my hip belt pocket.

    Black Cat

    #1858983
    P. Larson
    Member

    @reacttocontact

    "Whsn I vist my daungter in Boulder I do training hikes in the Flatirons & I always carry holstered BEAR pepper spray becuse there are also bear in that area.

    There have been lion attacks around the Flatirons area so for me it's just prudent to carry it. Better than nothing."

    Yes, BLACK bears, not Grizzly bears.

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