Discovering Griffith Park. Casey Schreiner

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      P-22 has a solid claim on being the most famous mountain lion (Puma concolor) in the world. (photo by Miguel Ordeñana)

      If you encounter a coyote or pack of coyotes and they don’t seem to be moving away on their own, the advice is the same as for most larger animals—stand your ground and make a lot of noise. They’ll usually look at you oddly and duck back into the brush.

       Mountain Lions

      There is exactly one known mountain lion living inside Griffith Park, P-22, and he is collared and tracked. Although P-22’s range is significantly smaller than that of other mountain lions, his behavior hasn’t changed much—he’s extremely elusive, hunts by stealth, and actively avoids human encounters.

      If you do encounter P-22—or any other mountain lion—stay calm and consider yourself lucky. Mountain lion encounters statewide are extremely rare and even more rarely result in injury to humans. However, small animals and children may be at greater risk than adults. Just in case you do meet one, here are some tips, which are all generally good advice for any wildlife encounter you’d prefer to avoid:

      •Don’t run: Running may trigger the lion’s hunting instinct and cause an encounter that may not otherwise happen.

      •Look big: Mountain lions generally only attack prey that’s smaller and weaker than they are. If you look large and aggressive, they’ll back away. Stand up, open your jacket, and make a lot of noise.

      •Create distance: While maintaining eye contact and making noise, slowly back away to give the lion space and an opportunity to escape. Remember not to turn your back, as that may trigger the lion’s hunting instinct.

       Rattlesnakes

      There are several species of snake that live in Griffith Park, and venomous Southern Pacific rattlesnakes are among them. As with the other animals here, rattlesnakes generally don’t want to see you as much as you don’t want to see them, but sometimes an accidental encounter can turn dangerous.

      You can avoid getting a snakebite by:

      •Wearing the right clothes: Don’t hike in flip-flops or open-toed shoes, and if you can, wear high boots and loose, long pants (which will also help protect you from the next critter I describe).

      •Staying on the trail: Avoid tall, grassy areas where snakes may lounge during the day.

      •Using trekking poles: Poles create extra vibrations on the ground that let snakes know something big is coming their way.

      If you do happen to come across a snake on the trail, back away to give it room. Many snakes sense vibrations on the ground, so stomping around a bit may encourage it to move along without incident.

      If you get bitten, stay calm, remove rings, watches, or any other items that may restrict swelling, and immobilize the bite area if you can. Contact the rangers at 323-644-6661 or call 911.

       Ticks

      On the more popular trails in Griffith Park, the wide paths and frequent foot traffic mean you’re not especially likely to encounter ticks—but they are here. If you find yourself deeper in the backcountry or hiking through an overgrown area, it’s worth your time to stop for a quick tick check afterward, especially in the warmer summer and fall months.

      The best way to avoid a tick bite is to make it more difficult for them to get to you. Wear long sleeves and pants and light-colored clothing and tuck your pants into your socks if you don’t mind getting a citation from the fashion police. If you do get bitten by a tick, it’s gross but relatively easy to remove it with a pair of tweezers or a tick-removal tool. If you don’t have one of those available, you can wait until you get home or go to a walk-in clinic instead—even if the tick is carrying pathogens, most of the ones they transmit generally won’t enter your bloodstream until the tick has been attached for at least twenty-four hours.

      Do not attempt to remove the tick by pulling on it with your fingers, putting rubbing alcohol on it, setting it on fire, or doing anything else.

       Poison Oak

      Often spotted in shadier areas and along canyon floors and arroyos, poison oak is common and widespread throughout Griffith Park as both a climbing vine and a short shrub. That old rhyming rule “leaves of three, let it be” stands true here. Every part of this plant—including the leafless branches—contains an oil (urushiol) that can cause itchy rashes on the skin. Symptoms last one to two weeks and can be treated with topical lotions, aloe vera, and antihistamines. Note that the oil can stick around on dogs, horses, or even clothing items, so if you think you came across some on your trip, it’s probably worth giving everything a good, thorough wash.

      A bane of hikers everywhere, poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) is present throughout Griffith Park.

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