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Big Bend National ParkYoung boy viewing fish in the beaver pond
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Big Bend National Park
If you see a mountain lion
Mountain lion peering through the grass along the Lost Mine Trail
Boyd Miller
Mountain lion peering through the grass along the Lost Mine Trail.
 

Avoid behavior that may attract lions:
  • Do not allow children to run ahead on trails.
  • Avoid hiking alone or at dusk and dawn.
  • Do not jog on trails.
If you see a mountain lion:
  • Remain calm! Enjoy the sighting. Most visitors never get the chance to see a mountain lion.
  • Never run from a mountain lion! No one can outrun a mountain lion.
  • Do not crouch down; the lion has seen you long before you saw it.
If you encounter an aggressive lion:
  • You must convince the lion that you are not prey and that you may be dangerous yourself.
  • If you have small children with you, pick them up and do all that you can to appear large.
  • Hold your ground, wave your arms, shout! If the lion behaves aggressively, throw rocks at it!

Report all mountain lion sightings, in detail, to a park ranger.
 
Butterfly on thistle in Chisos Basin  

Did You Know?
More than 175 species of butterflies have been documented in Big Bend National Park. Several species are seen only in the United States within the park or west Texas.
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Last Updated: August 16, 2006 at 12:56 EST