More often we are likely to see signs of a mountain lion presence in a wilderness area, if we know what those signs are and are on the lookout for them. Seeing the wondrous American lion was always in my heart and the back of my mind. The mountain lion is almost like the unicorn with archetypal status. The cougar is so rarely seen that it inspires mystical reverence in some people and gripping fear of the unknown in others. I have read that most people who live where mountain lions roam never catch sight of one of them in their lifetimes. I hiked and camped often with my husband, sister, brother-in-law, and all of our seven children, always hoping to see the magnificent tan-colored cat, the largest of the ones that purr. Sharing wild places with lions improves the health of the ecosystems, but it also reminds us there is still something truly wild and mysterious in the forest.įor decades I had hoped to catch sight of a mountain lion somewhere along a trail in the mountains of Yosemite. But with a careful eye, we can learn to spot the subtle signs they leave behind. Lions see us more often than we see them, and will almost always disappear into the brush before we detect their presence. Mariposa, California resident and avid hiker Rachel Oliver shares her story of encountering a mountain lion on a trail.
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