2005 Welcome Hunters! PAGE-7
Campfire
Safety
Checklist
1. Check to see If campfires are permitted
In the area.
2. Build fires away from overhanging
branches, steep slopes, rotting stumps
or logs, dry grass and leaves.
3. Keep plenty of water handy and have
a shovel available.
4. If not using an established fire ring,
fireplace or stove, scrape away Uttar,
duff and any other burnable material
within 10 feet of the fire.
5. Keep fires small. Many people believe
that big, roaring fires are best. Small
flies v4th good coal beds are actually
better for cooking and warming.
6. Never leave a campfire unattended.
Even a small breeze can causa a fire to
spread out of control.
7. Make sure your campfire Is completely
out before leaving the area. Drown It
with water, stir, and check the fire for
any remaining embers. Feel all the
malarial with your bare hands.
8. Do not bury hot coals. They can smol
der undetected and cause a fire later.
Be familiar with mountain lion signs and habitat
Almost all of Oregon is populated
by mountain lions; a surprising fact
to many residents and visitors. Moun
tain lions have made a strong come
back after being reduced to very low
populations in the early 1960s. These
large, powerful predators have lived
here since prehistoric times.
The potential for human/mountain
lion interactions has increased in re
cent years. However, more people are
injured or killed by deer, bees, dogs
and spiders than by mountain lions.
Since every attack is different, pat
terns of attack behavior are difficult
to identify. People should familiarize
themselves with mountain lion signs
and habitat. If you are concerned
about safety, the following sugges
tions can help prevent an attack:
Do Not Hike Alone: Go in groups
and supervise children.
Do Not Approach a Mountain
Lion: Most mountain lions will try
to avoid a confrontation. Give them
a way to escape.
Do Not Run From a Mountain
Lion: Running may stimulate the in
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stinct to chase. Stand and face the
animal. Make eye contact. If you have
small children with you, pick them up
so they don’t panic and run. Try to
pick them up without bending over
or turning away from the mountain
lion.
Do All You Can to Appear Larg
er: Raise your arms, open your jack
et, throw stones or whatever you can
without crouching or turning your
back. Wave your arms slowly and
speak in a firm, loud voice.
Fight Back if Attacked: Because
a lion tries to bite the head or neck,
try to remain standing and face the
attacking animal. Use rocks, sticks,
jackets, garden tools, camping gear
and your hands to fend off the attack.
Learn to identify Mountain Lion
Tracks and Signs:
Many mountain lion sightings are
often a case of mistaken identity.
Large dog paw prints are frequently
mistaken for mountain lion tracks.
The major difference between dog
tracks and mountain lion tracks is that
dog tracks have claw marks. Claw
marks are usually not visible because
mountain lions can retract their claws.
They have four toes and three dis
tinct lobes at the base of the heel pad,
forming an "M” shape. An average
sized mountain lion makes a track
about 3-1/2 inches wide and 3 inches
long.
Mountain lions are solitary ani
mals. Adult males almost always trav
el alone. If tracks indicate two or
more mountain lions traveling togeth
er, it’s likely a female with kittens.
Mountain lion feces are often cov
ered by soil, leaves or other debris
that is scraped from an area up to 3
feet in diameter. They create similar
scrapes (often urine-scented) to mark
their territory. They also leave claw
marks in trees.
All of these marks are signals to
other mountain lions that the area is
occupied.
The mountain lion is usually silent,
but has calls similar to an ordinary
tomcat, though magnified. They also
have a shrill, piercing whistle-scream,
a hiss and a growl.
POLARIS
ATVs
and
LIQUOR A G E N C Y
PHARMACY
HALLMARK CARDS
HOUSEWARES
FLORAL DEPARTMENT
F U L L S E R V I C E E S P R E S S O BAR
G o u r m e t S p e c i a l t y Dri nks
Hot, C old, and B le n d e d
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Morrow County
Grain Growers
Main Street, Lexington
217 North Main - Heppner - 676-9158
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WELCOME TO HEPPNER, OREGON1
Visit our web site at www.mcff.net