Strictly indoors now :( too much scary wildlife!
Serenifly
Posts: 669 Member
Ok this is NOT an excuse people, but hear me out
I live in the OutDoor Recreational Capital of Canada (Squamish) - I"m a natural born city gal, and moved up here to this mountain town 4 years ago
I was happily oblivous to the wild life here for my first year, I ran (I'm a runner by nature) a golfcourse every morning by myself, then I saw a COUGAR SPOTTED Sign on my morning run
I'm like hmmm... Ok no more running there anymore ... so I started running on concrete - And then i ran into a few bears - Black bears luckily - nothing to be scared of as long as no babies are around ...
Then last year (check the video link) A cougar (my biggest fear!) was video taped on the Squamish Chief (a famous rock face that has the MOST STELLAR hiking trails behind it) I burn 800 Cals MINIMUM hiking the chief - Now I can't do that by myself
This year alone, I've only hiked the chief once, cuz it's hard to find anyone else that wants to do it
And there have been multiple cougar attacks and sightings! One Cougar three weeks ago took a mountain biker off his bike while he was in a trail - luckily the biker had 3 friends behind him a few minutes and it took the FOUR OF THEM almost 5 minutes to fend it off by throwing rocks and being loud ...
So this city girl - sadly - even in the middle of summer - will be working out strictly indoors! I have a personal trainer 2wice a week, and a spinning class 1 morning, and the rest will be treadmil running ... unless I go to the city (45 minutes away)
Anyways, thanks for hearing my rant ... here's the video of the cougar sighting (the people who took the video, the cougar just ate their dog) a little too close for my liking!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EurvBPV_8YU
I live in the OutDoor Recreational Capital of Canada (Squamish) - I"m a natural born city gal, and moved up here to this mountain town 4 years ago
I was happily oblivous to the wild life here for my first year, I ran (I'm a runner by nature) a golfcourse every morning by myself, then I saw a COUGAR SPOTTED Sign on my morning run
I'm like hmmm... Ok no more running there anymore ... so I started running on concrete - And then i ran into a few bears - Black bears luckily - nothing to be scared of as long as no babies are around ...
Then last year (check the video link) A cougar (my biggest fear!) was video taped on the Squamish Chief (a famous rock face that has the MOST STELLAR hiking trails behind it) I burn 800 Cals MINIMUM hiking the chief - Now I can't do that by myself
This year alone, I've only hiked the chief once, cuz it's hard to find anyone else that wants to do it
And there have been multiple cougar attacks and sightings! One Cougar three weeks ago took a mountain biker off his bike while he was in a trail - luckily the biker had 3 friends behind him a few minutes and it took the FOUR OF THEM almost 5 minutes to fend it off by throwing rocks and being loud ...
So this city girl - sadly - even in the middle of summer - will be working out strictly indoors! I have a personal trainer 2wice a week, and a spinning class 1 morning, and the rest will be treadmil running ... unless I go to the city (45 minutes away)
Anyways, thanks for hearing my rant ... here's the video of the cougar sighting (the people who took the video, the cougar just ate their dog) a little too close for my liking!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EurvBPV_8YU 0
Replies
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Everyone has their fears and you have do to what you need to where you keep yourself safe. I would much rather be outside and take my risks for dogs, cougars, bears, wolves, etc - Rattlesnakes are common where I am, see them frequently. I run with a gun and am comfortable and properly trained to use it. I love the fresh air way too much to give it up over a spotting or other problem like that.0
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Oh my!!!0
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Oh my!!!0
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would it help if you had a dog, or volunteered to take a different shelter dog with you each week or a friends dog(s)0
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Everyone has their fears and you have do to what you need to where you keep yourself safe. I would much rather be outside and take my risks for dogs, cougars, bears, wolves, etc - Rattlesnakes are common where I am, see them frequently. I run with a gun and am comfortable and properly trained to use it. I love the fresh air way too much to give it up over a spotting or other problem like that.
Guns are very very very frowned upon here
or else I would run fully loaded! haha ... I know there is Bear spray - but not sure if there is anything that can deter a vicous cat like that
They say you'll never spot a cougar - it's attacking you if you see it ... scary scary though ... they seem to go after kids etc a lot more than adults, that's why the biker getting attacked three weeks ago was rare ...
I'm a city girl though, i'm scared of ALL wildlife - even racoons0 -
Just start packin heat while you hike!0
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I cant go walking alone at my in laws, or at least I don't want to. They live in the Tahoe forest. They've had a few mountain lion sightings this year, but last year the mountain lions were making personal appearances on the back porch during broad daylight. They also have bears, and they do come up to people, they will break into your house if no one is home, and there's been a few times where people see them during the day. So I know how you feel.
Where they live there's a general store, a post office, and a bar. The nearest hospital is about 50 miles away. So I stay indoors unless someone is out there with me.0 -
Guns are illegal to carry like that here lol I tried to get a guns license a few years ago, but was going through a nasty divorce - apparently you're more likely to shoot your spouse than anyone else? Application denied! haha0
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I cant go walking alone at my in laws, or at least I don't want to. They live in the Tahoe forest. They've had a few mountain lion sightings this year, but last year the mountain lions were making personal appearances on the back porch during broad daylight. They also have bears, and they do come up to people, they will break into your house if no one is home, and there's been a few times where people see them during the day. So I know how you feel.
Where they live there's a general store, a post office, and a bar. The nearest hospital is about 50 miles away. So I stay indoors unless someone is out there with me.
*shudders* ... are mountain lions and cougars the same thing? That's what they're saying about here ... They are just walking up and down the streets now! Litterally, Two days ago one was spotted outside my old apartment building! like seriously?0 -
I understand your fear. I'm a city girl too and spend a lot of time in the summer in the country. I'm worried about spotting coyotes here, so I'm very hesitant about running when I'm out of town.
Are there running groups?
Sign up for some races and get your outdoor runs in that way.0 -
Running with a gun sounds SO uncomfortable. Bump bump bump0
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I understand your fear. I'm a city girl too and spend a lot of time in the summer in the country. I'm worried about spotting coyotes here, so I'm very hesitant about running when I'm out of town.
Are there running groups?
Sign up for some races and get your outdoor runs in that way.
haha well here's a story for you! Yes - there is and I join it every year
this year our first class was at a track - There was a big coyote in the middle of the track - with a big bird in it's mouth!!!! All the other local ladies were like so, lets giv ' er! I'm like ARE YOU SERIOUS!?
We still did the clinic, with the coyote in the middle of the track, and he thought it was a game! Running back and forth - I was damn near having a heart attack, everyone else was treating it like it was a puppy! Scary -
I ended up breaking my big toe after that class and haven't been back since ! lol but they are starting up again in fall ... I wonder if cougars Hibernate? I can run in the snow!
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I know there is Bear spray - but not sure if there is anything that can deter a vicous cat like that
I know what would happen there, don't you? I would be be so flustered that the nozzle would be pointed at me, not the bear, leaving me all useless! The bear would say, "well dontcha know, I got myself a smart one." Laughing as he drags me away. I guess I should be thankful that Iowa doesn't have any bears!
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Running with a gun sounds SO uncomfortable. Bump bump bump
LOL, I picture myself with a camel pack with a large rifle sticking out the top My gun is small and very light weight. I did a lot of research into it and knew what I was buying. It fits in my SpiBelt perfectly, mine is relatively the weight of my celphone, and a little larger. It would probably fit into a blackberry case.
I so can understand if a person is a city girl having these fears. I grew up with Coyotes' as pets, so I didn't know any different. I fear the numerous popular pit bulls around here more than any wildlife. My friends mom (she's 74) camps alone and swears by bear repellant.0 -
no need to fear a coyote, they will run away from you at the slightest noise or movement LOL
A mountain lion/cougar on the other hand, not so much 0 -
How about running with a bell? That's what backcountry backpackers use to keep the big wildlife away from them. However, I would refrain from going out by yourself at dawn or dusk. That's when most of these animals are active.
I'm always more concerned about varmits running in the city, than I ever have in the country.0 -
Just start packin heat while you hike!
Yeah bad idea. 1) The size of gun you'd take with you would not be likely to kill the animal unless you are a superb shot, you're likely to miss entirely or just piss it off and make it now view you as a severe threat (as opposed to just lunch or soemthing interesting to check out, both of which mean a better chance of getting away or bluffing your way out of than "threat"). 2) Legalities and 3) You are more likely to see it running away (not a "shoot it" situation) than anything and in the situations where you're in danger you won't see it until it's too late. Sorry, I may live in Texas but guns != safety, knowledge and attention do much more for safety than guns ever do.
Personally, seeing big cats and bears in an area would not deter me from hiking in the area. It would make me read up on those animals and learn how to spot them or signs of them being in an area and try to avoid them or learn how to be around them safely. I live in Texas and the place were I go hiking is teeming with copperhead snakes. I learned very quickly how to spot them and how to behave around them without becoming a threat to them and getting myself bitten. (I've nearly stepped on them, twice...) Surprisingly they're rather mellow snakes and short of stepping on them, they'll leave you alone. I'd try and speak to a wildlife professional in your area and find out how you can still hike in that area AND keep yourself safe.0 -
Ok this is NOT an excuse people, but hear me out
I live in the OutDoor Recreational Capital of Canada (Squamish) - I"m a natural born city gal, and moved up here to this mountain town 4 years ago
I was happily oblivous to the wild life here for my first year, I ran (I'm a runner by nature) a golfcourse every morning by myself, then I saw a COUGAR SPOTTED Sign on my morning run
I'm like hmmm... Ok no more running there anymore ... so I started running on concrete - And then i ran into a few bears - Black bears luckily - nothing to be scared of as long as no babies are around ...
Then last year (check the video link) A cougar (my biggest fear!) was video taped on the Squamish Chief (a famous rock face that has the MOST STELLAR hiking trails behind it) I burn 800 Cals MINIMUM hiking the chief - Now I can't do that by myself
This year alone, I've only hiked the chief once, cuz it's hard to find anyone else that wants to do it
And there have been multiple cougar attacks and sightings! One Cougar three weeks ago took a mountain biker off his bike while he was in a trail - luckily the biker had 3 friends behind him a few minutes and it took the FOUR OF THEM almost 5 minutes to fend it off by throwing rocks and being loud ...
So this city girl - sadly - even in the middle of summer - will be working out strictly indoors! I have a personal trainer 2wice a week, and a spinning class 1 morning, and the rest will be treadmil running ... unless I go to the city (45 minutes away)
Anyways, thanks for hearing my rant ... here's the video of the cougar sighting (the people who took the video, the cougar just ate their dog) a little too close for my liking!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EurvBPV_8YU
My guess is you'll get tired of being indoors and you'll be back outside within 2 weeks........tops! ha0 -
I work out in the woods for a living and actually seek these creatures out! Hahaha! But I will tell you that if you run in the wilderness do it during the middle of the day; it is the least likely time these critters will be out and about. Cougars and mountain lions are the same thing. They're basically like giant, vicious house cats. They sleep the majority of the day, wake up, find some food and go back to sleep. They don't hunt for sport. It is likely the bicyclist startled the cat while it was taking a snooze. Keep in mind though the media does like to sensationalize human/wildlife encounters.
Wear very bright clothing, run with stuff that makes noise (bells, anything that makes a racket), carry a whistle (it startles them), and the bear spray is also not a bad idea if you have animals that are somewhat habituated to people (which it sounds like they may be). As we move more into their territory, the more likely we are to run into them; just the way it is. But if you make yourself look/sound big and tough, they won't bother with you. Same goes for bears, coyotes, hillbillies, etc.
Don't be afraid to go outside! There is too much fantastic stuff to see/do. I've been to that part of the world and I couldn't imagine being trapped inside. In fact, you probably couldn't keep me inside.
p.s. being afraid of racoons is pretty smart. They're mean little *kitten*.0 -
I work out in the woods for a living and actually seek these creatures out! Hahaha! But I will tell you that if you run in the wilderness do it during the middle of the day; it is the least likely time these critters will be out and about. Cougars and mountain lions are the same thing. They're basically like giant, vicious house cats. They sleep the majority of the day, wake up, find some food and go back to sleep. They don't hunt for sport. It is likely the bicyclist startled the cat while it was taking a snooze. Keep in mind though the media does like to sensationalize human/wildlife encounters.
Wear very bright clothing, run with stuff that makes noise (bells, anything that makes a racket), carry a whistle (it startles them), and the bear spray is also not a bad idea if you have animals that are somewhat habituated to people (which it sounds like they may be). As we move more into their territory, the more likely we are to run into them; just the way it is. But if you make yourself look/sound big and tough, they won't bother with you. Same goes for bears, coyotes, hillbillies, etc.
Don't be afraid to go outside! There is too much fantastic stuff to see/do. I've been to that part of the world and I couldn't imagine being trapped inside. In fact, you probably couldn't keep me inside.
p.s. being afraid of racoons is pretty smart. They're mean little *kitten*.
Hahah thank you you're post wins it for me ... Great post, I have heard of 'bear bells' my friend runs alone in the woods and wears them ... I appreciate your knowledgable post, thanks everyone for responding! Quiet the convo going!
Dee0 -
I cant go walking alone at my in laws, or at least I don't want to. They live in the Tahoe forest. They've had a few mountain lion sightings this year, but last year the mountain lions were making personal appearances on the back porch during broad daylight. They also have bears, and they do come up to people, they will break into your house if no one is home, and there's been a few times where people see them during the day. So I know how you feel.
Where they live there's a general store, a post office, and a bar. The nearest hospital is about 50 miles away. So I stay indoors unless someone is out there with me.
*shudders* ... are mountain lions and cougars the same thing? That's what they're saying about here ... They are just walking up and down the streets now! Litterally, Two days ago one was spotted outside my old apartment building! like seriously?
I don't think that they're exactly the same, but they're both from the dangerous wildcat breed, and that's enough to make me stay inside.
Last year when we went up there I was walking through the living room and looked out at the back porch and there it was. Then someone came driving up the driveway, it saw the jeep and split. Scared the crap outta me though.0
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