Watch: Florida Woman Has Close Call with Cougar on Bridge

by
posted on April 1, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
woman_cougar_camera.jpg

Photo Courtesy Facebook Video

Hunters—outdoorsmen and women in general, really—occasionally have run ins with some of this planet's more dangerous creatures. Bears, wolves, big cats—anything's possible when you venture into the wilderness. That said, close calls with mountain lions aren't particularly common for anyone, given the big cat's tendency to avoid detection at all costs. Still, human/cougar interactions can and do occur, as one Florida woman learned in what assuredly was a scary moment. In a video posted to the Facebook page of one Tina Dorschel, a woman is walking along a wooden bridge/path in what the details say is the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples, Fla. when she's accosted by one of the very large, very scary kitties.

A few seconds into the video, the camera operator pauses and starts whispering "Oh my God, oh my God." The viewer doesn't have to wait long to see what has her so agitated—a mountain lion (or panther, as Florida folks tend to prefer—they did name a hockey team after them, after all) comes barreling down the path toward her. The big cat seemed just as surprised and scared as whoever was behind the camera—it quickened its pace, nearly slamming into the rail of the bridge in doing so, and got out of there in an awful hurry. No one was harmed, though I'd wager the owner of the camera/phone was probably a little shaken up.

Check out the video for yourself and get a closer look—it's embedded below. Warning: There's some minor profanity involved as the cat approaches—not that I can blame anyone for that.

Latest

LEDE Measure To
LEDE Measure To

Measure to Improve Clarity on Federally Managed Waters Heads to President’s Desk

In mid-December the U.S. Senate took the final step on legislation requiring federal agencies that manage fresh waters to digitize and pool their regulatory data into a consistent mapping format.

Backcountry Camp Defense: The Tools for the Task

Camping should be memorable, but without forethought about protection it could be memorable for the wrong reason. What follows is a guide for defending one’s site against nature’s top predators.

TriStar Arms Expands KR22 Rifle Line

TriStar Arms is expanding the KR22 .22 LR rifle lineup with two new color options, giving shooters more ways to personalize one of the company’s rimfire rifles. The KR22 is now available in Flat Dark Earth and Olive Drab Green, joining the original synthetic black model that launched the platform.

Trust Your Gut: Deer Hunting Tips from the Stand

Field Editor Bryce Towsley gets a little help in “his” Mississippi stand.

Remembering Former NRA President Robert Corbin

Robert Corbin, a former NRA president and Arizona attorney general, died of natural causes on Sept. 9, 2025, at 97 years old.

Hardware Review: Stealth Vision Tactical SVT 3-18x44mm

Jeff Johnston dives into the Stealth Vision Tactical SVT 3-18x44mm. Check out his thorough review below.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.