This is a shared trail!
The Maah Daah Hey is a shared trail in many ways, it is used by mountain bikers, hikers and equestrians. It is also shared by cattle, big game, predators, snakes and other wildlife. This information is not intended to alarm you, but rather to inform you on some important things to consider when you encounter other trail “users” on the Maah Daah Hey.
MOUNTAIN LIONS:
I have biked and hiked this trail for years and never seen a mountain lion, but I know that they have seen me! Every once in a while I’ll get that feeling like something is watching me, I’ll stop and look around and not see anything. Don’t be fooled if you ever feel like that, your senses are probably right, something probably is watching you. So what do you do in that situation? Just keep your cool and stay alert. Mountain lions will typically do anything to avoid people and will most likely head in the opposite direction. The best thing you can do is to keep on enjoying your time on the trail. Don’t become overly paranoid but just look over your shoulder once in a while. Your chances of being attacked by a mountain lion are less than one in a million, but you do have to respect the critters and understand that you are in their territory. If you encounter one it is your fault not theirs, but would you know what to do?
I have been mountain biking on the the Maah Daah Hey since 2001 and I had never seen a mountain lion track until April of 2010. To see a mountain lion would be a real treat, as long as the experience didn’t end with you being the treat. In 2005 there were two bikers who were pestered by a mountain lion (links to the stories are below). If you have the rare opportunity of encountering a mountain lion there are a few tips you should know.
Never run from the animal, that makes you look like a play toy and a meal, don’t even turn your back to it.
Don’t crouch or try to hide, but stand up tall and raise your bike or at least your hands above your head. What you want to do is make yourself look as big as possible, if you are wearing a jacket you can unzip it and hold it open to make yourself appear larger.
Avoid looking the cat directly in the eyes, as they may consider it as a threat.
Be loud, make yourself sound tough, make them know that you are not an easy prey.
Throw rocks or sticks at the animal, be somewhat aggressive, but don’t charge them.
Then slowly back away.
I think that mountain lions are beautiful creatures. The opportunity of seeing one is extremely rare, but following those tips will increase your chances of living to tell the tale. The fear of being attacked should not deter anyone from visiting the Maah Daah Hey. The fact that they are around the Badlands is testimony that this truly is a wilderness trail that offers the kind of solitude and adventure that most outdoor enthusiasts are searching for. Mountain lions are mostly nocturnal and prey mostly on deer. People planning on using the Maah Daah Hey can be 99.9% sure that they will never even see a mountain lion. But if you are wanting to add to your peace of mind, I would recommend bringing some type of protection with you, especially if you are traveling alone. The three options that I use are; knives, bear repellent spray (super duty pepper spray) and a handgun. Just the sound of a gun being fired is probably going to send a mountain lion or any other predator running. If you plan to be on the sections of the Maah Daah Hey that pass through the North or South Teddy Roosevelt National Park units you are not permitted to carry firearms. In that case I bring a knife and my bear spray. I am often riding the trail alone which is why I choose such extreme measures of protection. Many people will consider these items a little “much” or a bit “overkill.” But to me it is about respecting the wilderness and being prepared for what you may encounter. Traveling with other people is your best option for protection on the trail. But if you do decide to bring protection with you the real key is to be familiar with it and have it quickly accessible. It won’t help you much if your bear spray is buried in your pack or if you don’t know how to fire your weapon when you are face to face with a mountain lion.