Hiker's Run-In With Cougar Caught On Camera
(CBS SF) -- A Florida woman's extremely close encounter with what appears to be a cougar was caught on camera and posted to Facebook, reminding pretty much anyone who walks on Bay Area trails that nature can be scary – and sometimes nature's afraid of us.
Tina Dorschel posted the video from her walk along a path in the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples.
Dorschel says she saw frogs, pretty birds, and snake along her walk. She also saw something bigger.
Warning: Video Contains Graphic Language
About halfway through the video, Dorschel stops dead in her tracks as she sees, or hears the big cat approaching on the walkway. It's clear from Dorschel's voice that she's scared, but in a strange twist when the cougar enters the frame, it seems to be more afraid of her - losing its footing as it tries to scurry past.
Mountain Lion sightings are not uncommon in the Bay Area, and although they try to avoid contact with humans, residents and pet owners should be on the lookout when walking in nature.
The video of the encounter was also posted to YouTube.