That's what makes this case so bizarre. Not only did the cat kill and feed on one human, it went back later and tried to use the same strategy on Ms. Hjelle. -- Tom Purvis -
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It didn't just go back to hunt a human. It went back after having already fed the *same day*. I don't know how much mountain lions eat, but it seems strange that the cat went back to hunt when it still had an only partly-eaten body available.
From what I read about lions, they do that not because they're still hungry, but become territorial defending their kill. I guess the take-away is, if you're out on the trail and come across a partially eaten deer, don't hang around like a CSI investigator or something.
There is one possible explanation. The cat opened up that guy's chest and ate some organ(s). Most likely the heart. Maybe he doesn't care much for the rest of the "meat."
He would have to eat a lot of human hearts in order to get full.
I live in South Orange County and ride in the area mentioned in the attack. I am not afraid to ride and I normally ride alone sometimes at night....as of late it is hard not to think of the attack while I ride. Of the things I have heard to protect oneself nothing talks about what you do when you have a cat one our back, arms pinned up the cats legs, head in his mouth, while he tears at the neck with his paws. It appears that the only defense is before an attack.
Simple: squeeze your fingers into the cat's mouth around your neck and face, pull until the animal's jaw separates from its skull. Extract your head, stand, spit, roar with triumph. Drag trophy back to trailhead, open a cold one.
-- -- Lynn Wallace xmission.com~lawallOpen ↗ "We should not march into Baghdad. ... Assigning young soldiers to a fruitless hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning them to fight in what would be an unwinnable urban guerilla war, it could only plunge that part of the world into ever greater instability." George Bush Sr. in his 1998 book "A World Transformed"
Maybe Camelbak will start selling a Porcupinebak? Full body armour will take on a new meaning 😉
Some people will buy anything. Semi-seriously, you need an American agent to negotiate the rights to your idea...
-- -- Lynn Wallace xmission.com~lawallOpen ↗ "We should not march into Baghdad. ... Assigning young soldiers to a fruitless hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning them to fight in what would be an unwinnable urban guerilla war, it could only plunge that part of the world into ever greater instability." George Bush Sr. in his 1998 book "A World Transformed"
From what I've read about mountain lions, they are relatively non-discriminatory predators. Humans will do 'em in a pinch.
I think that goes for cats in general. Look into the eyes of any house cat, you can see what they're thinking; "I swear to cat-god, if you hadn't bread my size advantage out of me I'd rip your face off and open that can of tuna myself."
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
On 2004-01-10, Tom Purvis penned:
Quoted message said:
That's what makes this case so bizarre. Not only did the cat kill and feed on one human, it went back later and tried to use the same strategy on Ms. Hjelle. -- Tom Purvis -
It didn't just go back to hunt a human. It went back after having already fed the *same day*. I don't know how much mountain lions eat, but it seems strange that the cat went back to hunt when it still had an only partly-eaten body available.
Oh boy a conspiracy theory. There's an army of cat assassins loose down there! -- _________________________ Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.comOpen ↗
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
On 2004-01-10, Tom Purvis penned:
Quoted message said:
That's what makes this case so bizarre. Not only did the cat kill and feed on one human, it went back later and tried to use the same strategy on Ms. Hjelle. -- Tom Purvis -
It didn't just go back to hunt a human. It went back after having already fed the *same day*. I don't know how much mountain lions eat, but it seems strange that the cat went back to hunt when it still had an only partly-eaten body available.
Oh boy a conspiracy theory. There's an army of cat assassins loose down there!
I meant to suggest that the behavior seemed a bit irrational. The later comments about how territorial the big cats are may serve to explain the behavior.
From what I've read about mountain lions, they are relatively non-discriminatory predators. Humans will do 'em in a pinch.
I think that goes for cats in general. Look into the eyes of any house cat, you can see what they're thinking; "I swear to cat-god, if you hadn't bread my size advantage out of me I'd rip your face off and open that can of tuna myself."
Sometimes my cat is thinking, "But before I rip your face off, make sure you scratch my ears properly."
Oh boy a conspiracy theory. There's an army of cat assassins loose down there!
I meant to suggest that the behavior seemed a bit irrational. The later comments about how territorial the big cats are may serve to explain the behavior.
And I meant to suggest that there really may be more than one cat. Remember there was both the Ghost AND the Darkness. -- _________________________ Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.comOpen ↗
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
Per Elmsäter said:
Maybe Camelbak will start selling a Porcupinebak? Full body armour will take on a new meaning 😉
Some people will buy anything. Semi-seriously, you need an American agent to negotiate the rights to your idea...
Armadillo bladder? Wait, that might not sell to well outside of China Street. -- _________________________ Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.comOpen ↗
The fact that this is only the 41st documented fatality from a Mountain Lion attack in the US in 150 years, I'd say that human attacks by these animals is EXTREMELY rare. It is fairly accurate to say that they avoid us like the plague.
Miles
Where does that fact come from? It seems way high when compared to the numbers compiled by Dr. Paul Beier during his Phd/post doc phase. I seem to remember that his numbers were 44 documented attacks, with ~10 fatalities from 1890 to 1990.
The fact that this is only the 41st documented fatality from a Mountain Lion attack in the US in 150 years, I'd say that human attacks by these animals is EXTREMELY rare. It is fairly accurate to say that they avoid us like the plague.
Miles
Where does that fact come from? It seems way high when compared to the numbers compiled by Dr. Paul Beier during his Phd/post doc phase. I seem to remember that his numbers were 44 documented attacks, with ~10 fatalities from 1890 to 1990.
R
I must admit to parroting our local newspaper, if it can be graced with such a title. Looking into it, it does appear that there had been only ten fatal attacks since the 1890s before this one. Interestingly, half have come in the last decade...
On Wed, 14 Jan 2004 16:42:46 GMT, "Pete" <[email hidden]> wrote:
. ."Chris Phillipo" <[email hidden]> wrote . .> > .> > .> Oh boy a conspiracy theory. There's an army of cat assassins loose down .> there! . .They MUST be minions of the demented doctor. Dr. Doolittle-style, he has .convinced them to eradicate the scourge of mountain bikers everywhere.
They needed no convincing. Even the wildlife hate you guys. === I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to humans ("pure habitat"😉. Want to help? (I spent the previous 8 years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)
On Wed, 14 Jan 2004 16:42:46 GMT, "Pete" <[email hidden]> wrote:
. ."Chris Phillipo" <[email hidden]> wrote . .> > .> > .> Oh boy a conspiracy theory. There's an army of cat assassins loose
down
Quoted message said:
.> there! . .They MUST be minions of the demented doctor. Dr. Doolittle-style, he has .convinced them to eradicate the scourge of mountain bikers everywhere.
They needed no convincing. Even the wildlife hate you guys.
So you assume that the 'demented doctor' is YOU?
Nice of you to finally come to grips with your condition. Recognizing the problem is the first step to a cure.
miles todd <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
Reco Diver wrote:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
<snip>
Quoted message said:
The fact that this is only the 41st documented fatality from a Mountain Lion attack in the US in 150 years, I'd say that human attacks by these animals is EXTREMELY rare. It is fairly accurate to say that they avoid us like the plague.
Miles
Where does that fact come from? It seems way high when compared to the numbers compiled by Dr. Paul Beier during his Phd/post doc phase. I seem to remember that his numbers were 44 documented attacks, with ~10 fatalities from 1890 to 1990.
R
I must admit to parroting our local newspaper, if it can be graced with such a title. Looking into it, it does appear that there had been only ten fatal attacks since the 1890s before this one. Interestingly, half have come in the last decade...
Miles
It is that fact, that attacks are increasing, that drove Dr. Beier's work (or at least secured funding). I was just wondering where the info was coming from, since I have heard the same numbers in the news.
I had the great fortune to work for Dr. Beier on a prey species abundance study while in grad school in the late 90's.
