Encounters with Sharks and other Predators

[vance]

So we all know that when you dive in Monterey, most of the coast of CA, and other parts of the world, you are in the water with Great Whites, Bull sharks, reef sharks, etc. Maybe some of you didn't know that when you're out hiking in California, as well as other parts of the world, you're walking with mountain lions. Usually, you don't see them, but you know they are there.

Today I was out with my wife and a friend in San Pedro Park, Pacifica, CA. It's a beautiful area on the Pacific coast, which includes Montara Mountain. It is an area of redwood , eucalyptus, cypress, madrone/manzanita,  and oak/laurel groves. Absolutely gorgeous.
As we were returning to the parking lot, we were standing on the trail for a second to talk about something, and as I stood there looking back up the trail to my wife and friend, my brain suddenly resolved the image of a mountain lion standing behind a tree trunk not 5 feet away from me and probably 4 feet away from my wife and friend. 

Those things are huge. He didn't move a muscle as we tried not to run down the trail away from it. I'm never going to forget looking into those eyes. 

[scubalawyer]

We have mountain lions around here too. They are pure muscle and often take out dogs that are walking with their owners. We have had a few kids attacked too. Magnificent animals but they are not overly afraid of people.

I had a bobcat run out from under my car in my driveway yesterday. Nasty thing stopped, turned and hissed at me then reared back on its hind feet and looked like it was going to jump on me. I threw my empty laptop bag at it and it took off. Ain't nature grand!

[duckbill]

Pretty hair-raising encounters.

I'll never forget the time I was turkey hunting in Los Padres, and as I was sitting in the grass calling for gobblers I looked over just in time to see a bobcat stalking me about fifteen feet away. Spooky!