The drought here in Idaho has caused a decline in the deer population, and that has brought mountain lions much closer to the towns -- just about a mile from here one killed and ate several household pets (not joggers, dogs and cats). And while there are trees and such in this area, the area is one of houses and yards.

I'm told that if you take a hike in some of the wilderness areas you'd be wise to pack a gun, but these are REAL wilderness areas -- Frank Church, Lolo, and so on -- north of here and in the mountains where "the hand of man has seldom set foot."

While the laws are such that you COULD pack an unconcealed pistol ("big iron on your hip") even in town, it DOES bring you immediate attention from the police. They take you for a nice drive and ask you pointed questions and then make certain suggestions about your apparel. If you were to tell them that you're packin' a gun because a mountain lion might attack you in town, they might arrange for you to meet a new friend, a real doctor!

Very, very few people worry about it unless they are somewhere where the sun sets between them and the road.

There have been reports for years of black panthers in the midwest -- Illinois, Indiana, etc. And during the late 50s there was a confirmed mountain lion, name of Alfy, who roamed my old Boy Scout camp back in Illinois -- live and let live, and apart from some dirty Boy Scout shorts if you heard Alfy scream, there were zero problems.