Who needs to be armed in a National Park?
Well, it was a good thing this 6-year-old’s father was. (h/t sshbiker)
A family was walking in Big Bend National Park when a mountain lion snuck up and pounced on the 6-year-old boy. Clamped down on his face. The father stabbed the mountain lion in the chest with his pocket knife and that caused the predator to break off the attack and run.
It’s rare that a mountain lion attacks a human, but a 6-year-old looks like food that won’t put up much of a fight (vs. a large man). With the drought and rough conditions here in Texas, critters are going further and taking more chances in their quest for food. The coyotes have been coming much closer to my house lately, and yes that concerns me.
Wild animals are just that: wild animals. To them, you are not a person, you are either something to be left alone, or prey. In fact, it really doesn’t matter if the predator has 2 legs or 4 legs, you are either something to be left alone, or prey. Being attacked may be rare, but when it happens what are you going to do to respond? Are you going to just panic and scream? Or are you going to be able to fight and win?
Good job, Dad.
Stuff From Hsoi 
A friend took some pictures of cougar and cub tracks up in Bertrim, not too far from here. In texas cougars have a range of 300 to 500 sq miles.
Not suprising to hear. I live near the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. I recall a few years ago I took some Cub Scouts there and they said we couldn’t go to a few places in the back area because a mountain lion had been spotted in the area. They’re around and closer than we care to think… especially folks in the city.