Face to Face with a Mountain Lion: A Hiker's Incredible Encounter

A hiker was unexpectedly confronted by a mountain lion while strolling down a paved path in a picturesque park in Utah.

The man, who captured the tense moment on his phone camera, explained that he was heading towards a large lake, completely unaware of the mountain lion behind him, until he turned his head searching for the lake. "The first few seconds after spotting it, I was terrified," shared the man, who chose to remain anonymous and only documented the situation.

Fortunately, he suddenly remembered a tactic from the U.S. National Park Service, often shared with hikers. "I recalled the advice that in such a situation, the worst and most incorrect reaction is to run away. Quite the opposite, really. You're supposed to make loud noises, simulating roars, to try and scare it off."

So, he yelled, and the mountain lion fled—only to suddenly 'change its mind' and come back. "I saw it peeking through the brush and charging at me. I scared it while running, and thankfully it eventually ran off for good."

Soon, his video went viral, amassing hundreds of thousands of views. "You did the right thing, great job," one user commented. "Screaming and roaring hysterically was exactly what needed to be done." Another commenter noted that it was likely a relatively young and inexperienced cat, as "an adult male wouldn't have been scared and could have killed you."

The mountain lion, known as a cougar or 'American lion,' inhabits mountainous regions. These big cats can be deadly, with three tragic incidents in the past where they killed humans.