• Keep as calm and as immobile as possible, placing the wound below the level of the heart.
• Have someone transport you to the nearest hospital.
• Do not aggravate the situation by the use of constricting bandages, cutting the bite wound, or using a suction device.
• Never use ice or cold packs, or suck the venom out with your mouth.

Mountain Lions are tawny-colored, with black-tipped ears and tail. They prey on both large animals such as deer, and small animals such as rabbit. Their lifespan is generally about 12 years in the wild.

Adult males can be more than 8 feet long from nose to tail, and usually weigh between 130 and 150 pounds. Their territory is often over 100 square miles. Adult females can be 7 feet long, and weigh between 65 and 90 pounds. Their territory is generally 20 to 60 square miles. In densely populated areas, as many as 10 adult lions may occupy the same 100 square miles.

Mountain Lions are seldom a risk to people. To avoid an encounter, here are some DO's and DON'Ts to follow:

• DO NOT Hike Alone
• DO Keep Children and Pets Close to You - Mountain Lion studies suggest that they are especially drawn to children and pets. Keep them in site at all times.
• DO NOT Approach a Lion - Most Mountain Lions would prefer to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
• DO NOT Run from a Lion - This triggers the lion's instinct to chase. Instead, do the following:
  • Stand and face the animal.
  • Make eye contact, and try not to break it (ie, don't turn away).
  • Pick up small children, don't let them panic and run. If possible, put them on your shoulders.
• DO NOT Crouch Down or Bend Over - even while picking up children.
• DO All You Can to Appear Larger - raise your arms, pick up children, throw stones or branches, or anything else within reach as long as you do not bend down or turn away from the lion. Speak loudly... you want to convince the lion you are not prey, and that you may be a danger to it.
• DO Fight Back if Attacked - use rocks, sticks, jackets, etc, to fend off a lion. lions generally go for the head or neck, so try to remain standing.

Poison Oak

Poison oak (Rhus diversiloba) can be found at elevations below 4,000 feet, where rainfall is 8 inches or more per year. The plant emits a poisonous, oily irritant called urushiol from the plant's stems, roots, branches and leaves. Urushiol binds with skin proteins within 20 minutes after contact with the plant (alive or dead), or other objects which have been in contact with the plant (eg, clothing, tools, or pets).

The allergic reaction to this irritant is a rash, which can start from a few hours to five days after contact. It starts as itchiness and swelling, proceeding to tiny pimples. Then blisters form, from which can ooze a clear fluid. If left untreated, the rash lasts from three to five weeks.

A few facts about poison oak:

• While there is no cure for the rash, you can relieve the symptoms. Remove urushiol from skin and clothing. Over-the-counter anti-itch treatments containing zinc acetate, zinc oxide, or hydrocortisone can be applied to the skin. For severe cases, consult a physician.
• Do not use bleach to remove the oils. While this appears to work at first, the bleach will remove the top layer of skin, irritating the skin underneath and possibly making the rash worse. It may also make your skin more sensitive to the urushiol in the future.
• The rash appears once the original oil has bonded to the skin. At this point, you cannot spread the rash to others.
• Blisters will not cause the rash to spread. While blisters are the body's natural reaction to the poison, their fluid does not contain urushiol.
• Mild rashes will last 5 to 12 days. More severe cases can last up to a month or longer.
• Never break the blisters, they can become infected. If they break, cover the blisters with a sterile bandage. For severe cases, consult a physician.
• The rash should be uncovered to help promote healing. If you do need to cover it, use a steril bandage and cover loosely so oxygen can reach the surface of the skin. Keep the bandage clean and change it often to prevent infection.
• The urushiol oil does not evaporate, and can remain active for years.
• Because this plant climbs onto other plants, be careful that the firewood you are burning does not have any poison oak clinging to it (dead or alive). Inhaling the burning urushiol can cause blisters in your lungs. This can be very serious. If you suspect you've inhaled smoke from burning poison oak, see a physician immediately.
• Even though you have never had an allergic reaction to poison oak in the past, it's possible to become sensitive to urushiol at any time. If you are exposed to poison oak enough times, your body will eventually become sensitive to the oil.