I stumbled across this image on Facebook and had to shudder.  I'm surprised anyone is healthy in Florida. I mean who would want to stay in shape just to be a mid-morning snack for these hungry spectators?  Once again, I found another reason to love Oregon.  I'll take rain any day over danger, and I do.

Of course, its not as if Oregon does not have danger here. There is the wandering bobcat up the street, and a cougar now and again. When we lived out in the country, a cougar took down a calf 1/4 mile from my house. My children were young then and played outside in our yard.  I called the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife number.
"Is it true? Did a cougar really take down a cow up the street?" The story grew a little in my excitement.
After confirming the story, the game warden, or whoever I spoke to told me, "Lady, you've always had cougars out in your area."
My sage reply, "Yes, but I didn't know it."  

And so we moved. Not really for the cougars, more because of the house size, but it was a nice benefit. That was until I found out that within his home range a male cougar roams anywhere from 50-150 square miles. As we only moved 10 miles away, I dealt with the news by pretending not to think about it.  Overall, it works fairly well. I figure it this way. Why would a hungry cougar want to come into a neighborhood full of cats, dogs, and the coyotes that walk up the middle of my street stalking them when the mountain lion can traipse the abandoned woods hunting squirrels? I like this logic; it works for me. 

I run a little, alright, maybe running is a far stretch, some might call my pace a very fast walk. Whatever the speed, it happens routinely, a couple times a week for sure. I used to have a dog, but now I just bring my friends. I'm sure we intimidate these hungry creatures while we walk through the wooded park.  At least I hope we do.  The point? Well, alligators can run 11 miles an hour, much quicker than my pace, so I've decided to take my chances with a cougar. They run faster, but I think I have better odds.  With a cougar, I'm not supposed to run because they like to chase. That works for me. Wardens warn me to stand firm, not to turn my back, but to stare them down. A given; I will be frozen in place. Instead, I am  supposed to stand up tall. Maybe my friends and I could build one of those human pyramids. I'll take the top, thank you.  

The warden reminds me to not stop and look at dead animals I find along the trail as this may be the cougar's lunch for later in the day.  As I take no delight in looking over dead animals, I think I am safe in that category.    

On the Washington Fish and Wildlife website, http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/cougars.html, yes, we have cougars to the north of us as well, they give further instructions:If the animal displays aggressive behavior, shout, wave your arms and throw rocks. The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger.If the cougar attacks, fight back aggressively and try to stay on your feet. Cougars have been driven away by people who have fought back.

You know The Parent Trap movie wasn't too far off base.  I think instead of carrying weights next week, I'll grab a couple of sticks.