This is John Bachelor speaking with Dr. Ted Stankowich of California State University at

Long Beach who runs a mammal lab and commenting on the recent tragedy of the death of a young man, his brother

mauled, he's deceased by a mountain lion which has now been destroyed by the

California authorities, and the question of why one mountain line would attack humans

given that as an apex predator the mountain line is likely to avoid humans as at all possible. I asked Dr. Stankerwich, Ted, what

to be done if you confront or run across or in a trail you come across a mountain line that hasn't run away yet or

that wants you to see it or it's an accident and he has some very practical advice.

Here's Dr. Ted Stankowich of the California State University at Long Beach.

Recommendations, should you, would you ever confront a mountain lion?

The best outcome is you see a mountain lion and it walks away.

That's predominantly what happens. Most of the time mountain line see you and you don't see them at all. But if you do see a mountain lion and you don't see them at all.

But if you do see a mountain lion,

you're best to be hiking in pairs or groups.

If you have a child with you, lift the child off the ground,

keep your pets on a leash or close to you. Try to make noise, be harassing,

be loud, make yourself look bigger, lift your coat up over your body to make yourself look

larger. Anything you can do to appear

aggressive or stronger. Face the mountain line, don't turn your back on it,

don't kneel down and leave the animal

and escape route more of this later