Posted on 04/14/2005 11:06:09 AM PDT by neverdem
CALGARY -- Peter Bysterveld is alive to tell his tale of survival from a terrifying cougar attack, thanks to sharp instincts and sheer strength. The 23-year-old SAIT student wrestled the feline and flung it through the air after a failed attempt to escape from it in Kananaskis Country Saturday.
"I hit a muddy patch and fell on my stomach, and then I turned around and grabbed its feet, gave it a toss and picked up a stick and started yelling at it," Bysterveld said yesterday.
Bysterveld and his girlfriend were on the last leg of a long hike in K-Country's Sheep River Wildlife Sanctuary when they came face-to-face with two young-looking cougars.
The animals were sitting among trees some seven metres ahead on the popular hiking trail about 20 km west of Turner Valley. One cat turned around, looked his way and lunged in his direction.
With nothing to fight with, Bysterveld felt his only option was to run, which would also distract the cougar from his girlfriend, who watched in horror from behind a tree.
Then Bysterveld fell.
The cat, about the size of a large domestic dog, bit into his calf. Bysterveld responded by taking the cat by its legs and tossing it about five metres.
It got up to come back at him, but Bysterveld had grabbed a stick and yelled at it.
The cat then sauntered off into a gully and the injured Bysterveld - covered in scratches on his arms and a bite to his leg - made it back to safety.
"I think being bigger helped, and I think he was shocked that I picked him up and threw him," said Bysterveld.
Fish and wildlife crews were looking for the offending cat yesterday.
Friend sent me that HUNTN BIZ clip yesterday. Lion hunt in africa. Lion came in on them after first shot, pretty good. Save that one.
Ditto that. Guy did the right thing; lady did the right thing, too.
Dan
ROFL!
Is that bug in your living room?
Great car, I'm building my third Baja right now.
...
No, it's in my shop. It's a pretty fancy shop, though...25'x25', half carpeted, a/c and heated, got a great ventilation system.
Check out here...I've got a blog documenting our progress...
http://kimsbug.blogspot.com
Well as long as you don't try and tell your husband the proper way to defend against and attack the cat gnawing on his leg it's all good :)
My digits??
By turning and running, he did exactly the wrong thing.
Running from a cat stimulates its "chase impulse", and virtually ensures it will chase you down.
What it does w/you when it catches you (and rest assured, it WILL catch you), is up to you.
Unless there's something seriously wrong w/the cat (starved, socialized to humans, etc.), once it figures out what you are it will leave.
Stay on your feet, face the cat (but don't look it directly in the eyes, that makes it more nervous), make lots of noise, and back away.
Other than that, remember, sooner or later we're all just meat.
Oh yeah, a .45 helps too.
"An unarmed knucklehead who's lucky he survived."
We need to understand the root causes of why cougers attack - the grinding poverty and unrelenting despair that drives these cats to fight back against their human oppressors. We need a UN commission too look into this!
[/sarcasm off]
That's right...note that when he did exactly that, the cat left.
I know that a domestic cat could attack and kill a chicken, but usually won't because the chicken will flap and squawk and make a lot of hubbub. They just don't want the bother apparently...
In my book to get treated equal you must act equal.
I think she should have grabbed a rock and got in the fight.
Never hike without a staff. It does all sorts of good things for you, such as buy time while you're getting out the magnum.
Ohhh! LOL!!
Well, my husband gave me my lawn mower for my birthday a couple of years ago and my car for my birthday last month.
But I'm gettin' on in age...I want a riding mower next! LOL
This kids is lucky to be alive. Couple of guesses, based on the available info: These were cubs. Perhaps mature cubs, but still cubs. Cougars are solitary critters and I don't think two adults would be lounging around together.
That means that mom was around somewhere... maybe off getting lunch for the kids. Or mom was watching... letting them learn another hunting lesson.
If mom had been there and had the inclination, he'd never have even seen her coming.
One thing I've learned about cougars is that if you see one in the woods, that cougar has most likely already decided to let you live. If they don't want to be seen they're pretty good at not being seen.
And you would have her. . .do. . . .what?
Thats what he intended - to protect his girlfriend. He has my respect.
So few men left.... that understand that concept. So few women left.... who see the advantage of having a real man around. I commend your comments and your wife should be proud.
If my wife & I were in that situation, I'd sure want her behind that tree! My job as husband is to PROTECT HER. Given any such mutually life-threatening situation, my first responsibility is to create an escape route for her, that she may survive and that I can focus on the task of terminating the threat. If she's pitching in, it better be rapidly and decisively; otherwise, she's in immediate danger and I have to divide my focus between her and the threat, and place myself in greater danger to lessen hers.
What would YOU have her do??? get in harm's way?
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