Yeah, and I remember Scott Lancaster. Scott was killed in like 91/92 from a Cougar. 'bout 7 miles from me.
Unlike you, I have never had to be super aware of my surroundings til we moved there. I wish I could give you a better description, vague, I felt danger and fear, and my hair stood up. I looked around and did not see anything, but STILL compelled to run to safety, and run FAST. Me too, They are a powerful animal..... Oh, I apologize for the confusion when I say WWW, that means my husband, WildWildWest
Trust your instinct's for sure! I know those feeling's! there are lots of big kitty's right in my backyard too.
Too much encroachment by us into their habitat. That forces their food (deer, elk, smaller critters) either closer or farther from us. Cats aren't stupid, they go where their food source goes. But if the populations become too much, the weaker cats move to different locations. More to the Urban areas. And their prey may change at that point. Dogs, cats, small children, etc. There are a multitude of Mountain Lions - - in Colorado that are not disclosed. DOW won't state how many in a given area, but I have had reports. 86 mated pairs from Golden to the base of Floyd Hill. No estimate on juveniles or solitary females/ males. Less than 30 miles as the crow flies.
This came out this summer. Located on the other side of the province from me. Cougar vs. wolf: ‘Unreal’ battle caught on camera near Lake Cowichan