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It’s hard to beat a nice, peaceful bike ride to clear your mind, but for one biker, a leisurely afternoon ride was interrupted by a heart-stopping encounter with a roaming mountain lion.<\/p>\n
TikToker Trevor Shor (@trevorshor) went for a bike ride with his father on a set of trails in Newbury Park, California.<\/p>\n
Although the sun was shining, their afternoon nearly turned into a complete nightmare.<\/p>\n
Shor managed to film a mountain lion exiting the brush just feet away from the bike trail.<\/p>\n
“Saw it pop out of the bushes, it noticed us, froze and locked eyes with me. It stayed there for a good 30 seconds or so and then finally started walking down the path,” Shor wrote.<\/p>\n
“Eventually it ran off the road into the hills again.”<\/p>\n
As a user observed in the comments section, one odd detail about the mountain lion immediately stood out: the animal appeared to have a collar around its neck.<\/p>\n
“That collar means he’s being tracked for research,” they wrote.<\/p>\n
“So cool. But still so scary coming face to face with it,” Shor replied.<\/p>\n
While it wasn’t clear how long the mountain lion had been monitored or by whom, the species’ presence wasn’t unheard of in Southern California.<\/p>\n
However, the mountain lion population in California isn’t quite as robust as many assume.<\/p>\n
In 2024, the Los Angeles Times reported that there were a couple thousand fewer mountain lions in the state than previously thought.<\/p>\n
A study led by researchers from the California Mountain Lion Project estimated that there were between 3,200 and 4,500 mountain lions, a far cry from the original estimate of 6,000.<\/p>\n
Despite a smaller estimated population, mountain lion sightings are still somewhat common in rural areas of California.<\/p>\n
But as human activity expands into mountain lions’ natural habitat, the species can be forced out of its territory in search of food and seclusion.<\/p>\n
In early 2025, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook after a cluster of mountain lion sightings was reported in the area. The post offered plenty of useful tips for staying safe.<\/p>\n
“If you see a mountain lion, especially one feeding or with offspring, keep your distance. Most mountain lions prefer to avoid confrontation,” the department began.<\/p>\n
“If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run. Instead, face the animal, make noise, and try to appear larger.”<\/p>\n
Mountain lions are a vital species that help maintain ecosystem health by controlling their prey, such as deer and elk, preventing the overgrazing of plants, and protecting crucial waterways.<\/p>\n
By ensuring the health and safety of the mountain lion population, Californians can more effectively promote biodiversity in the region.<\/p>\n
Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices \u2014 and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD’s exclusive Rewards Club.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n