Cougars and Night Riding --

Winston · February 10, 2002, 06:22 PM

I plan on a night ride (4 hours deep into wilderness) on a mountain bike in cougar and bear county. I will of course have lights. My question is:

What type of behaviors to cougars have when seeing lights
at night. Would a cat be attracted to me bumbling down a
trail at a slow rate of speed with lights on my bike and helmet?

What about bears ----

Art Eatman · February 10, 2002, 07:00 PM

No sane bear or cougar would regard you as other than some nutzoidal thing to avoid at all costs.

While just ambling around at night without anything like a bicycle, I would not expect to see, hear or feel a bear.

I would not be at all surprised to feel the presence of Big Poo Tat. They are quite curious, mildly territorial, and arrogant enough to believe they are top of the food chain. (On this last, we differ.) They will trail along in curiosity. If you kneel down to tie a shoe, they might attack--that sorta shapes you like their normal sort of food.

Cougar is much better eating than bear. Not as greasy. Easier to skin.

In general, I just wouldn't worry a lot about it.

Art

H&H,hunter · February 10, 2002, 08:21 PM

Just relax if a big cat decides to take you he'll bite you through the back of the neck and the base of the skull. You'll never feel a thing.

No sweat guy I wouldn't be to worried I might carry my shooting iron just for comfort sake however.

slick slidestop · February 10, 2002, 09:13 PM

I wouldn't worry about Cougars and Bears. 4 hours deep in the wilderness, you need to worry about the Red-neck types from Deliverence.

C.R.Sam · February 10, 2002, 09:16 PM

[color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color] gato grande
Sees all
Is rarely seen.
Specially by food.

Don't sweat it.

Sam

February 10, 2002, 06:22 PM	#1
Winston Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2001 Posts: 141	Cougars and Night Riding -- I plan on a night ride (4 hours deep into wilderness) on a mountain bike in cougar and bear county. I will of course have lights. My question is: What type of behaviors to cougars have when seeing lights at night. Would a cat be attracted to me bumbling down a trail at a slow rate of speed with lights on my bike and helmet? What about bears ----

February 10, 2002, 07:00 PM	#2
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	No sane bear or cougar would regard you as other than some nutzoidal thing to avoid at all costs. While just ambling around at night without anything like a bicycle, I would not expect to see, hear or feel a bear. I would not be at all surprised to feel the presence of Big Poo Tat. They are quite curious, mildly territorial, and arrogant enough to believe they are top of the food chain. (On this last, we differ.) They will trail along in curiosity. If you kneel down to tie a shoe, they might attack--that sorta shapes you like their normal sort of food. Cougar is much better eating than bear. Not as greasy. Easier to skin. In general, I just wouldn't worry a lot about it. Art

February 10, 2002, 08:21 PM	#3
H&H,hunter Senior Member Join Date: July 25, 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 504	Just relax if a big cat decides to take you he'll bite you through the back of the neck and the base of the skull. You'll never feel a thing. No sweat guy I wouldn't be to worried I might carry my shooting iron just for comfort sake however.

February 10, 2002, 09:13 PM	#4
slick slidestop Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 394	I wouldn't worry about Cougars and Bears. 4 hours deep in the wilderness, you need to worry about the Red-neck types from Deliverence.

February 10, 2002, 09:16 PM	#5
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	[color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color][color=#FF0000]█[/color] gato grande Sees all Is rarely seen. Specially by food. Don't sweat it. Sam