Hikers Survive Close Encounter with Mountain Lion After Spotting Wild Animal Following Them

A group of hikers in Texas had a tense encounter with a mountain lion while exploring Big Bend National Park.

Joey Thometz was hiking with two others along Boot Canyon Trail when they noticed something large and fast move across the path before disappearing into the terrain.

“At first, all I could see was a large tan body with a long tail and a black tip,” he told the Houston Chronicle. “It disappeared in the hills for a few moments.”

Once they gathered themselves, the group realized a mountain lion had crossed their path and was now perched nearby, watching them. Thometz captured a brief video of the big cat staring them down from a hill.

According to the National Park Service, the group experienced one of roughly 150 mountain lion sightings reported each year in Big Bend.

“It looked surreal, with sharp facial features and muscles,” Thometz said, adding that they were “in disbelief” but thankful to be traveling as a group of three adults.

Thometz explained that the hikers had noticed warning signs along the trail about the small risk of encountering a mountain lion — signs they were relieved to have taken seriously.

“The signs specifically say not to run so you don’t trigger their predator instincts,” he noted. Instead, they made loud noises to frighten the animal away.

After the mountain lion started to move, the group continued hiking in the opposite direction to increase their distance from it.

“We could still see it moving up the hill. The whole encounter lasted under a minute,” he recalled.

Later, the hikers found a park volunteer and alerted them to the sighting, and they also informed additional park officials along the way.

Per the National Park Service, most sightings happen along the park’s roadways, but encounters on trails are not unusual. In rare instances, previous encounters have resulted in attacks.

Mountain lions usually avoid people, but they can show “aggressive behavior” for several reasons — such as protecting young, hunger or injury, or natural predatory curiosity triggered by human behavior.

The agency advises that anyone who encounters a mountain lion should avoid running, as it can activate the cat’s “attack instincts.” Instead, hikers should maintain eye contact, stand tall to appear bigger, and shout or throw rocks or sticks to deter the animal. If attacked, people are advised to fight back.

The best guidance is to slowly back away, especially if the animal may be guarding a kill or its den.

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