It’s hard to beat a nice, peaceful bike ride to clear your mind, but for one biker, a comfortable afternoon ride was interrupted by a heart-stopping encounter with a roaming mountain lion.
What is going on?
TikToker Trevor Shor (@trevorshor) went for a bike ride with his dad on a set of trails in Newbury Park, California.
Although the sun was shining, their afternoon almost turned into a complete nightmare.
Shor managed to film a mountain lion coming out of the brush a few feet away from the bike trail.
“I saw her come out of the bushes, she noticed us, she froze and locked eyes with me. She stood there for a good 30 seconds or so and then finally started walking down the road,” wrote Shor.
“Eventually it went off the road again into the hills.”
Why is this mountain lion attacking?
As one user observed in the comments section, an odd detail about the mountain lion stood out immediately: the animal appeared to have a collar around its neck.
“That collar means it’s being monitored for research,” they wrote.
“That’s cool. But it’s still so scary to come face to face with her,” Shor replied.
While it was unclear how long the mountain lion had been monitored or by whom, the presence of the species was unheard of in Southern California.
However, the mountain lion population in California is not as robust as many assume.
In 2024, the Los Angeles Times reported that there were a few thousand fewer mountain lions in the state than previously thought.
A study led by researchers from the California Mountain Lion Project estimated that there were between 3,200 and 4,500 mountain lions, far from the original estimate of 6,000.
What is being done about mountain lion encounters?
Despite an estimated smaller population, sightings of mountain lions are still somewhat common in rural areas of California.
But as human activity expands into the natural habitat of mountain lions, the species may be forced out of its territory in search of food and isolation.
In early 2025, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook after a group of mountain lion sightings were reported in the area. The post offered many useful tips to stay safe.
“If you see a mountain lion, especially one feeding or with cubs, keep your distance. Most mountain lions prefer to avoid confrontation,” the department began.
“If you meet a mountain lion, don’t run. Instead, face the animal, make noise, and try to look bigger.”
Mountain lions are vital species that help maintain ecosystem health by controlling their prey, such as deer and elk, preventing overgrazing of plants, and protecting crucial waterways.
By ensuring the health and safety of the mountain lion population, Californians can more effectively promote biodiversity in the region.
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