LAKE FOREST, Calif. (KABC) — Two mountain bikers had a frightening encounter with a mountain lion while on an Orange County trail, and it was all caught on video.
The cyclists, who did not want to be identified, say the encounter took place on the trails in Whiting Ranch in Lake Forest on Sunday afternoon, the same area where a mountain biker was killed by a cougar in 2004.
The pair first spotted the mountain lion hiding in the bushes. The video shows the big cat come down from the mountain and begin stalking them closely on the trail.
The pair slowly backed away, keeping their eyes on the cat, and their bikes between them as a barrier, when the mountain lion suddenly started following along.
The cyclists tried to yell, but the mountain lion continued to follow. At one point, they even prayed for their protection.
Eyewitness News spoke with a local community scientist and wildlife photographer with knowledge of mountain lions in the area.
“It is concerning because that’s what you don’t want. Typically, mountain lions don’t want anything to do with humans,” said Mark Girardeau, a community scientist and wildlife photographer.
He recently captured cougar cubs and their mom on camera in the Santa Ana mountains.
Girardeau says the mountain lion is a young juvenile, and says the bikers did exactly what you’re supposed to do, despite being followed for several minutes.
The video shows the big cat make a final, frightening charge, running toward the pair, before it ran over the side of the mountain and off the trail.
“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. Maybe it’s just curious and trying to figure out what these humans are,” Girardeau said.
He said there was a second reported encounter with the mountain lion, and the rangers have been alerted.
The bikers escaped shaken but unharmed, and are warning others to always be on alert on the trail.
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