Wildlife Safety

Mountain Lions

Mountain lions are rarely seen residents of City of Rocks, as they prefer to avoid contact with humans. The rare sighting of a large predator can be exhilarating, however they can be dangerous. The following suggestions can increase your chances of preventing an encounter and give you the information you need to need to stay safe in the case of an encounter.

Preventing an encounter

• Don’t hike or jog alone
• Keep children within sight and close to you
• Avoid activities around dawn or dusk
• Avoid dead animals
• Keep a clean camp
• Leave pets at home
• Be alert to your surroundings
• Carry pepper or deterrent spray
• Use a walking stick

If you meet a cougar

• Don’t run, it may trigger an attack instinct
• Stand and face it, don’t turn your back
• Pick up children, without bending over
• Appear large, wave arms or jacket over head
• Do not approach, back away slowly
• Keep eye contact

If cougar is aggressive

• Throw things
• Shout loudly
• Fight back aggressively
• Target it’s eyes

Please report all mountain lion sightings at the visitor center.

 

Moose

While seeing a large mammal in the park can be exciting, it’s important to remember that moose are unpredictable animals that can weigh up to 1,400 lbs. Moose are not normally aggressive towards people, but will defend themselves if they feel stressed, threatened or cornered.

Stay Away
Give moose plenty of room! Always view moose from a distance. Stay at least 25 yards or 75 feet (25m) or two bus-lengths away from moose.

If you do stumble upon a moose:

• If it hasn't detected you yet, keep it that way.
• If it knows you're there, talk to it softly and move away slowly.
• Don't be aggressive. You want to convince the moose that you aren't a threat.
• If you think the moose is going to charge you, run away or take cover behind something solid like a tree (or climb a tree).

Watch for signs that the moose is upset.
If the moose’s ears are laid back and the long hairs on its hump are raised, it’s likely to charge. Most of the time, a moose’s charge is a 'bluff', or warning for you to get back - a warning you should take very seriously! Once a moose bluff charges, it is already agitated.

If a moose charges you, it is because you are in its territory. Get away as fast as you can, they try to trample a perceived threat. Unlike with bears, it is okay to run from a moose.

They usually won't chase you and if they do, it's unlikely that they'll chase you very far. If a moose knocks you down, curl up in a ball and protect your head with your arms and keep still. Fighting back will only convince the moose that you may still be a threat. Do not move if it remains close by and agitated. Moose have a top of speed of 30+ mph. Do not move until the moose leaves you alone has backed off to a safe distance or it may interpret your movement as a renewed threat and attack again.

Just Remember: Stay Away & Run Away