# Hiking wife beats mountain lion off of her husband with pen and a branch **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 26, 2007, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiking-wife-beats-mountain-lion-off-of-her-husband-with-pen-and-a-branch/389551 "2007-01-26T14:24:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiking-wife-beats-mountain-lion-off-of-her-husband-with-pen-and-a-branch/389551/21 "2007-01-26T16:15:16Z")
Kind of unusual for a wild cat to attack humans from behind, isn’t it? He must have been really, really hungry – that’s the only reason I can think of that he’d attack something that big from behind. I always thought mountain lions would attack adult humans only if they felt threatened. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiking-wife-beats-mountain-lion-off-of-her-husband-with-pen-and-a-branch/389551/22 "2007-01-26T16:25:19Z")
[QUOTE=Sunrazor] Kind of unusual for a wild cat to attack humans from behind, isn’t it? He must have been really, really hungry – that’s the only reason I can think of that he’d attack something that big from behind. I always thought mountain lions would attack adult humans only if they felt threatened. [/QUOTE] From what I’ve read/heard it is the opposite, aside from cases where cubs are involved. A threatened adult will behave as this cat did after it was bashed in the face, crouch down, with ears back, in a defensive posture and take the nearest exit. Most of the human attacks are the result of stalking prey, ie following belong behind the target or at least out of the line of site. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiking-wife-beats-mountain-lion-off-of-her-husband-with-pen-and-a-branch/389551/23 "2007-01-26T17:37:57Z")
I wonder if the couple has cats at home. If so, wonder how hubby will react the next time that kitty jumps up on the bed and tries to sleep on his head. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiking-wife-beats-mountain-lion-off-of-her-husband-with-pen-and-a-branch/389551/24 "2007-01-26T17:59:04Z")
[QUOTE=Finagle] I wonder if the couple has cats at home. If so, wonder how hubby will react the next time that kitty jumps up on the bed and tries to sleep on his head. [/QUOTE] “…Coming up…A pet tabby, brutally stabbed to death with a Fischer Space pen. Get the details. FoxNews, at 10…” _cue cheesy FauxNews music_ ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiking-wife-beats-mountain-lion-off-of-her-husband-with-pen-and-a-branch/389551/25 "2007-01-26T19:08:34Z")
[QUOTE=susan\_foster] Okay - we have two events for the “Danger Triathalon” What should the third be? [/QUOTE] Bicycling on the Interstate. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiking-wife-beats-mountain-lion-off-of-her-husband-with-pen-and-a-branch/389551/26 "2007-01-26T19:12:59Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] Bicycling on the Interstate. [/QUOTE] ..in Alaska, with panniers full of fresh salmon. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2007, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiking-wife-beats-mountain-lion-off-of-her-husband-with-pen-and-a-branch/389551/27 "2007-01-26T19:34:41Z")
[QUOTE=Dishfunctional] Land shark? [/QUOTE] You mean a [Bullette?](http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/gol_gallery/72GoL67Bulette.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiking-wife-beats-mountain-lion-off-of-her-husband-with-pen-and-a-branch/389551/28 "2007-01-27T06:40:07Z")
[QUOTE=ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies] I’ve spent many hours at Prairie Creek State Park. It is a beautiful place and a great park. [/QUOTE] I’ve been there a few times myself…and you’re right, it’s a magical spot. What people may not know is that there is a thriving elk population there…lots of mountain-lion-food on the hoof. A perfect place for the big cats. If you happen into their territory, likely you won’t have any idea that they are watching you like, well, a cat. AFAIK, most attacks are by lions that are old or sick. A healthy lion usually won’t have any problem surviving off of it’s usual prey. There’s an interesting book, The Beast in the Garden, that tells the story of a mountain lion that killed someone and was roaming around in downtown Boulder, Colorado at one point. ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiking-wife-beats-mountain-lion-off-of-her-husband-with-pen-and-a-branch/389551/29 "2007-01-27T16:45:37Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] You mean a [Bullette?](http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/gol_gallery/72GoL67Bulette.jpg) [/QUOTE] Close, but no [Belushi.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/20/John-belushi-004.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiking-wife-beats-mountain-lion-off-of-her-husband-with-pen-and-a-branch/389551/30 "2007-01-27T16:47:45Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] Bicycling on the Interstate. [/QUOTE] S/B Wrong-way Bicycling on the Interstate. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiking-wife-beats-mountain-lion-off-of-her-husband-with-pen-and-a-branch/389551/31 "2007-01-27T17:31:27Z")
I dunno. I find it much easier to beat off a mountain lion with a leather glove and some KY jelly. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2007, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiking-wife-beats-mountain-lion-off-of-her-husband-with-pen-and-a-branch/389551/32 "2007-01-27T21:00:14Z")
[QUOTE=Sunrazor] …that’s the only reason I can think of that he’d attack something that big from behind. I always thought mountain lions would attack adult humans only if they felt threatened. [/QUOTE] I dunno, maybe this guy was just a dick. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiking-wife-beats-mountain-lion-off-of-her-husband-with-pen-and-a-branch/389551/33 "2007-01-28T05:49:17Z")
[QUOTE=Darryl Lict] I dunno. I find it much easier to beat off a mountain lion with a leather glove and some KY jelly. [/QUOTE] OK, now I have to explain to my wife in Japanese what KY jelly is, since I was laughting so hard after reading this one. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2007, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiking-wife-beats-mountain-lion-off-of-her-husband-with-pen-and-a-branch/389551/34 "2007-01-28T13:39:26Z")
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