Mountain Lion Killed in Downtown Santa Monica

[invisibleman]

A fully engaged cougar would tear a person to shreds. No contest.

This reminds me of a thread I saw someplace, "what's the deadliest animal you feel you could defeat in a fight?"

The conditions were: barehanded, in a concrete arena, no weapons, and only one of you can leave alive. And the animal you choose is pissed-off and wants to kill you.

I'm saying I could probably take down an ostrich, maybe a wolf. I dunno what I'd do with even the mid-sized cats, like lynx and such. Cougar? Puma? No fuckin' way.

[Drewcar]

This reminds me of a thread I saw someplace, "what's the deadliest animal you feel you could defeat in a fight?"

The conditions were: barehanded, in a concrete arena, no weapons, and only one of you can leave alive. And the animal you choose is pissed-off and wants to kill you.

I'm saying I could probably take down an ostrich, maybe a wolf. I dunno what I'd do with even the mid-sized cats, like lynx and such. Cougar? Puma? No fuckin' way.

Barehanded and no weapons ... I wouldn't take on a porcupine either.

[tertius]

A cougar can kill a bull roosevelt elk. I've seen the aftermath. Bull elk can weigh over 1000 pounds, whereas a full grown cougar weighs just over 200 pounds.

This is also fairly uncommon, and I'd put money on the fact that the bulls in question were probably exhausted from the rut, sick, injured by wolves, or something similar. It's always possible to get lucky with a good spring on a healthy elk, but that's risky prey right there.

A fully engaged cougar would tear a person to shreds. No contest.

I'll grant you that a cougar that made an effective spring from cover has a pretty good chance of taking most people out in a matter of seconds. However, a decent number of folks have survived attacks. Being bipedal, having thumbs, and being pretty smart has a fair number of tactical advantages. Hell, a smart 70 year old man (one tough as leather, mind you) survived such an attack: http://www.salon.com/2002/02/12/cougar/singleton/

And it helps that most cats aren't looking for a fight. They're looking for an easy meal.

[invisibleman]

Barehanded and no weapons ... I wouldn't take on a porcupine either.

Dude. A pissed-off porcupine is fucking terrifying.

[Drewcar]

This is also fairly uncommon, and I'd put money on the fact that the bulls in question were probably exhausted from the rut, sick, injured by wolves, or something similar. It's always possible to get lucky with a good spring on a healthy elk, but that's risky prey right there.

It does happen though, and demonstrates their capability as stealth predators. In the scenario I speak of, the cat must have ambushed the elk from behind an old growth redwood stump. You could see signs of it behind the stump, followed by tracks suggesting a rapid attack.

I still would not want to tangle with something that can take down a geriatric bull elk.

[hamburgerfan]

This reminds me of a thread I saw someplace, "what's the deadliest animal you feel you could defeat in a fight?"

The conditions were: barehanded, in a concrete arena, no weapons, and only one of you can leave alive. And the animal you choose is pissed-off and wants to kill you.

I'm saying I could probably take down an ostrich, maybe a wolf. I dunno what I'd do with even the mid-sized cats, like lynx and such. Cougar? Puma? No fuckin' way.

I believe I could defeat several foxes, or 2-4 coyotes.

[tertius]

It does happen though, and demonstrates their capability as stealth predators. In the scenario I speak of, the cat must have ambushed the elk from behind an old growth redwood stump. You could see signs of it behind the stump, followed by tracks suggesting a rapid attack.

I still would not want to tangle with something that can take down a geriatric bull elk.

Well, no, obviously. I'm not saying anyone should WANT to have to wrestle a cougar.
I'm just saying a human does have options besides dying horribly, if they've got a little luck on their side.

[Miro]

Well, no, obviously. I'm not saying anyone should WANT to have to wrestle a cougar.
I'm just saying a human does have options besides dying horribly, if they've got a little luck on their side.

And if the cougar isn't looking for a fight to the death.

And bare-handed against a pissed off wolf? God help you if any bodypart of yours gets caught by its jaws.

[JC]

If only they'd read my cat-fighting strategy...

[Mark E. Hurling]

Barehanded? Are none of you aware of Gibbs Rule #9?