Close Call on the Trail: How Non-Lethal Defense Scared Off a Mountain Lion

A fall night hike turned tense when a family group encountered a mountain lion on the trail. What began as an ordinary outing—an older brother, his wife, their child, and one steady hiker—quickly became a lesson in awareness, preparedness, and the effective use of non-lethal self-defense.

Spotting the Cat

About 25 feet away, a mountain lion appeared on the trail. The hiker’s brother noticed the animal first; immediate, calm noise and clear signaling made the group’s presence known. The cougar moved away, and the family continued down the trail with the child and adults headed forward while the hiker covered the rear, watching for anything that might follow.

The Stalk

Roughly 10–15 minutes later the animal reappeared — this time only about 15 feet away, having apparently followed the group along the ridge. The situation escalated quickly. With the mountain lion maintaining interest, the hiker drew a Byrna SD (a non-lethal launcher loaded with hard polymer projectiles) and fired three rounds: one left, one above, and one right. The rounds ricocheted as intended and were sufficient to make the animal retreat.

A Second Encounter

The group resumed hiking, still less than a mile from the parking area, when the mountain lion popped up again. Facing the rear and prepared, the hiker fired again. Four rounds were discharged; three struck the animal in the chest where aimed, and the fourth missed as the animal moved. The cat ducked away and did not return. Thanks to a spare magazine, the device was quickly topped off and kept at the ready for the remainder of the return to the trailhead.

Outcome and Takeaways

No lethal force was required. The non-lethal rounds and an assertive response deterred the mountain lion without causing fatal harm. The family members, initially skeptical of the Byrna, became convinced of its utility after this encounter—several expressed intent to acquire their own units.

Key lessons from the incident:

• Situational awareness matters. Keeping eyes on the rear and communicating clearly helped the group stay coordinated.

• Make noise and be visible. Announcing presence can prevent surprise encounters; deliberately loud, assertive sounds may discourage an approaching predator.

• Non-lethal tools can work. In this case, a dedicated non-lethal launcher delivered deterrent effect without resorting to lethal measures.

• Be prepared with backup. A spare magazine allowed for continued readiness during a dynamic, potentially dangerous situation.

• Training and calm execution count. Quick, controlled responses minimized panic and helped protect everyone on the trail.

For anyone who spends time in cougar country: research local wildlife behavior, carry appropriate tools for personal and family safety, and practice using them before they’re needed. Preparedness reduced risk on this hike—and kept the encounter from becoming a tragedy.