With summer here, your family may be planning a camping trip to cougar country. In Western states like Colorado and California, trails are likely to be marked with signs warning what to do should you come face to face with a big cat.

The number one most important thing is, never hike or bike alone. The more people you have in your group, the bigger the "noise" you can make to frighten a mountain lion away.

Dusk is prime hunting time for cougars since that is when deer come out to graze. Be especially watchful should you take an evening stroll.

According to the California Bureau of Land Management (www.blm.gov.ca) about half of California is prime mountain lion country. Dead cougars have been spotted alongside major interstates. Urban dwellers whose homes back up to open space occasionally see a cougar in their backyard.

Known also as the panther or puma, the mountain lion is native to North America. It lives for about 10 years in the wild. Its only natural enemies are bears, wolves, other lions - and of course, people.

This solitary stealthy animal roams enormous territories, which makes an accurate "head count" tricky. It's believed there are roughly 5,000 mountain lions in California. An adult male can weigh up to 180 pounds. Its paw print may be mistaken for a large dog's - but no nail print will likely be visible in mud along a creek bank because the puma usually keeps its claws retracted. Cougars have four toes on each paw and three distinct lobes at the base of each heel pad.

Rocky foothills and mountainous regions are a favorite haunt and while vocalizations can resemble the mewing, growls and hissing of a housecat, the female lion in heat emits a distinctive very piercing drawn out scream. The cougar also emits high-pitched whistles. Although most active from dusk to dawn, they are known to hunt and travel in daylight. The cougar typically stalks its prey using available cover, then "ambushes" from behind with a powerful bite below the base of the skull, breaking the prey's neck.

Here are BLM's tips for what to do, should you encounter a cougar:

COUGAR/HUMAN ENCOUNTERS - (Source: California Bureau of Land Management):

Generally, mountain lions are calm, quiet and elusive. They are most commonly found in areas with plentiful prey and adequate cover. Such conditions exist on public lands, in mountain subdivisions, urban fringes and open space.

The following guidelines and suggestions have been developed, based on reported patterns of behavior and response. Remember: Every situation is different and a cougar's individual behavior can be affected by several factors including the terrain, the people and their activity, as well as the age and health of the mountain lion.

When you hike in mountain lion country, go in groups and make plenty of noise to avoid surprising a lion. Keep children close and within sight at all times. Talk with children about lions and teach them what to do if they meet one.

Never approach a cougar, especially one that is feeding or with kittens.

If you come upon a cougar, stay calm. Talk firmly to it and move slowly. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation, so give it a way to escape.

Stop. If it is safe, back away slowly. Do not turn your back and do not run. Running will stimulate the cougar's instinct to chase and attack. Face the cougar and stand up straight.

Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms and open your jacket it you're wearing one. If small children are with you, pick them up so they will not panic and run.

If the cougar behaves aggressively, throw stones or anything you can reach without crouching down or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly.

Fight back if the cougar attacks. Unlike with bears, "playing dead" does not work. Cougars have been driven away by prey that fights back. People have successfully fought off lion attacks using such objects as rocks, sticks, clothing, garden tools and even their bare hands.

Cougars, like all wildlife, can be dangerous. The BLM says hiking and camping in cougar country carries with it responsibility and adds, "With a better understanding and respect for these majestic animals," humans and cougars can peacefully coexist.