UMKC teacher reports seeing mountain lion at Parkville Nature Sanctuary

PARKVILLE, Mo. - - A morning walk at the Parkville Nature Sanctuary became an unexpected encounter for one man.

" I heard a little rustle over there and after that he came here with his long tail out. He was type of in a streamlined position, and he took a look at me. I was right there and I froze," said Steven Davis, who explained his encounter with what he thinks was a mountain lion.

The frightening moment happened around 10:45 Monday early morning near the trailhead.

Davis, who's a music professor at UMKC, said he generally strolls the almost three-mile path five days a week. He normally sees rabbits, squirrels, birds, and the occasional deer, but never ever something like this.

" My heart went from no to a million," he said.

Bobcats are known to frequent the location, but Davis is adament that what he saw wasn't a bobcat.

" Bobcats tails balance around 5 to 10 inches, and their fur is various," he said. "This was mostly solid-color, like a mountain lion, and had some white beneath and a black suggestion to the tail."

The encounter took Davis by surprise and left him both frightened and speechless, meaning he did not snap a photo. He described the encounter as lasting 5 to 6 seconds before the animal went on its method.

In order for a sighting to be validated in Missouri, the State Department of Conservation needs physical evidence like a photograph of the animal or of its scat and tracks.

" We have had, throughout the years, hundreds and numerous sightings that were investigated that proved not to be true," said Bill Graham with the Missouri Department of Conservation. The deparmtent said less than one-percent of reports have actually yielded enough physical proof to plainly confirm the presence of a mountain lion. However, that doesn't meant sightings are illegitimate.

The state of Missouri's had 115 verified reports of mountain lions because 1994, but the Kansas City city only represents 2 of those reports. The very first taken place near North Kansas City in 2002, while the other happened in Parkville back in November 2010.

" It's uncommon to see a mountain lion in this location, but it's possible," included Graham.

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Most of the mountain lion sightings are young males who are on the lookout for bigger woods and much better places. Far, there's no proof that shows a reproducing population of mountain lions, according to the Department of Conservation.

If you happen to come across a mountain lion, do not panic. "Normally, they're shy around individuals. They're going to avoid dogs and individuals," added Graham. "They choose to be alone on their own in the woods." Not just that, but mountain lion attacks are exceptionally rare, per the state, which published the following on its website: More than 50,000 individuals pass away in automobile accidents in the United States each year. Lightning eliminates another 86 people, and pets eliminate 80 more. In contrast, deadly mountain lion attacks have balanced one in every 7 years considering that 1980.

Contact the Mountain Lion Response Team at the Missouri Department of Conservation's website if you're one of the couple of to find a mountain lion.

Furthermore, if you're uncertain what to do when experiencing one, the U.S. Forest Service provided the following tips:

• If you spot a mountain lion and the animal is uninformed of you, alter your path so that you will move far from its location.



• Never approach a mountain lion especially one that is feeding or with kitties.



• Most mountain lions will try to avoid fight. Always provide a method to get away.


Remain calm. Hold your ground or back away slowly.


• Continue facing the mountain lion, and keep eye contact.



• Do all you can to appear bigger; Stand upright, raise your arms, raise your walking stick, open your jacket.



• If you have kids or family pets with you, try to select them up without turning away or flexing over.


Again, Do not flex over to select up a rock or stick off the ground. This action might set off a strike response in a mountain lion.


• If the lion behaves strongly, wave your arms slowly and speak strongly in a loud voice, and throw items like the water bottle in your hand. The goal is to convince it that you are not prey and may be dangerous yourself.



• Try to stay standing to secure your head and neck.



• If attacked, fight back !! Use rocks, jackets, sticks to turn away the mountain lions.



• Report any mountain lion encounters or event to the regional Ranger District, or Fish and Wildlife Office.