UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

This link shows a runner on a trail about 10 miles from me and his encounter with a cougar. All of the trails in Utah have this possibility as we invade the animals' space with trails and development.

The video contains strong language and is 6 minutes long but worth seeing to understand the patience and speed of a cougar.

BTW I always hike armed.

https://www.ksl.com/article/50029804/it-was-a-very-long-6-minutes-utah-man-describes-wild-encounter-with-cougar-at-provo-canyon

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Great link. When I come to Utah, I will hike with Armed Mike.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

The other side of the coin is the "Iampuma" I Am Puma on YouTube where a couple live with a 100#+ Cougar "Puma" that is trained and docile like a large puppy. 100# of purring kitten.

Indeed, in the video the extended arms/paws in a hugging threat were interesting. My 12# Siamese male and I had words one time. Friends came over with caffeine-rich small children and I picked him up foolishly; he would have avoided the kids ... well he quickly shredded my left arm, but did not tear out chunks with his powerful jaws. I put him on the kitchen floor and put my neck over the back of his and growled. He accepted me as master. But that mother cat was really pumped up and would have made mince-meat of the hiker... WOW!!!

Well worth watching!!!

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

Fortunately the animal was only clearing the area to protect its cubs. The stomping of front paws was a challenge to fight or leave.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

That was interesting to watch. I too hike armed but have never had to use it thank goodness.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

And there it is. The hiker was intruding on the Cougars territory and she had cubs. Mountain lions are reclusive animals they avoid humans. But every animal species in the world will defend it's offspring, including the human animals. It's the hikers responsibility to be aware of the surroundings and to avoid at all costs, animals with cubs.

I have and do hike a lot, I have encountered wild animals. They live in the wild. It is a treat to see one. I would never ever consider discharging a weapon on a wild animal unless my life or the life of a fellow human, was in immediate grave danger.

tramsey Loc: Texas

I wonder if that hiker is going to go back on that trail in a couple of months

merrytexan Loc: georgia

Wow...amazing how the jogger kept his composure.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Yup.

It looks frightening because it was the intention of the cat but I believe he was not really in danger unless he pressed on getting nearer the cubs.

I don't think the runner felt in real danger too being able and manage to make a video out of it. Otherwise, that is sheer stupidity.

If it was hunting, it would try to remain invisible or unimportant until the first strike is launched. That cougar visible jumped between him & the cubs but did not attack. Rather, it posed and challenge his reason to be there. It seems to be aggressively moving forward but that is because he is moving away from it. In reality it is merely remaining within a reactionary distance.
I believe it feinted an attack as a reaction to moments that he seems to project resistance as a way of keeping & projecting dominance.
Clearly when he was far enough and decided to counter attack, it went away.

But the way media reports it is misleading and full of hype. Repeating & reinforcing the feints with plenty fear & danger comments and using that as the video avatar. Showing it as if the mother cougar was intentionally hunting down the runner and is a danger to everyone in the audience at home.
Even glorifying the unsuccessful hunt for the cougar that followed, sowing fear to whomever is going to use the path next.

Sirsnapalot Loc: Hammond, Louisiana

Oh yeah, by then he should have all the poop washed out of his britches....

Mike Hardisty Loc: North Wales

Can't watch it. I get a forbidden message when I click the link. I presume this is a geographic thing because I'm in the UK.

steve49 Loc: massachusetts

A woman I knew was killed by a cougar several years ago in Washington.
She was riding a bike with a friend, the cougar attacked the friend ...she ran and the cat chased her and killed her. Sad story.
These wild animals are dangerous. If that thing came after me I would be scared to death never mind make a video.

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

all I get is a commercial and then a play button that doesnt play. thanks for wasting my time. LOL it was a terrible commercial too.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

Stay safe Mike, thanks for the sharing.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

I have seen this elsewhere and this version has edited the beginning where a cub was seen crossing the trail and showed the hiker proceeding to move closer. That may have been the inciting event for this encounter.