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Two mountain bikers had a frightening encounter with a mountain lion in California
The cyclists were on a trail in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, a public park in Lake Forest, Calif., when they came face to face with the cougar
The cyclists captured the incident on video
During a recent bike ride in California, a pair of cyclists stumbled upon a mountain lion.
The mountain bikers shared their story — along with footage of the frightening, face-to-face encounter — anonymously with ABC7 Eyewitness News. They were trekking a trail in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, a public park in Lake Forest, when they caught a glimpse of the mountain lion nestled in some bushes, according to the outlet.
Footage of the incident shows the mountain lion — the species also known as a cougar, puma or panther — lurking in some brush at the Orange County park, peeking its face tentatively from a spot behind some leaves.
At one point, the cat emerged from the brush, however, and hit the trail.
The mountain lion slowly approached the pair from a distance, according to footage of the incident that the anonymous cyclists shared with ABC7. It got much closer and faster at one point, trotting along the trail as the duo began backing away.
Carlos A Carreno/c3.photos via Getty
Stock image of a puma
The pair had slowly started moving away from the creature, while keeping their eyes on it and their bikes in between them, when the animal began following them, the outlet reported.
In the footage, one of the bikers can be heard yelling at the panther, “Go away, kitty!” Elsewhere, they seemingly used some expletives, as ABC7 censored a portion of what they said during the run-in with a bleep.
After heading over a hill, the cat continued to follow before making one final, scary charge at the pair, according to the outlet. It later scampered off of the trail, footage shows.
The bikers escaped unscathed, per ABC7.
Mark Girardeau, a scientist and wildlife photographer, told the outlet that the mountain lion in the Orange County encounter appeared to be a young juvenile. He also said the creature appeared unsure of its actions.
“I’m assuming, because it’s such a young mountain lion, because it still has spots, it probably recently left mom, and it’s probably just not sure of what to do,” Girardeau told ABC7, adding that the animal may have just been “curious,” and “trying to figure out what these humans are.”
Marc Martin/Los Angeles Times via Getty
A trail at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park
There was a second reported encounter with the same mountain lion, and park rangers have been alerted to the situation, ABC7 reported, citing the scientist. A mountain biker was previously killed by a cougar in the area in 2004, according to the outlet.
The Mountain Lion Foundation offers advice on its website for those worried about running into one of the cats in the wild, as the Orange County bikers did, on its website.
The California nonprofit advises anyone visiting, hiking or mountain biking in the animals’ territory to first and foremost, pay attention to their surroundings, and notes that a sighting alone should “not be cause for fear or alarm.”
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Individuals can alert mountain lions — who are most active at dusk and dawn — to their presence with noise and bright clothes, the foundation says. It also suggests moving in groups, and keeping kids close by and pets leashed.
“No matter what wildlife you encounter, give them space, and do NOT approach, film, or follow,” the Mountain Lion Foundation website states. “If you encounter a mountain lion, remember to Appear Large, Be Loud, Make Eye Contact, Back Away Slowly, and If Attacked, Fight Back.”
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