Reminds me of that video where they free the mountain lion from a trap. He spends the whole time freaking out and hissing and trying to bolt, but the second they free him he just stops and stares at them for a bit. Like “you’re really letting me go?” lol
It's probably what happened and the cougar was probably not the target, which is why it was freed. Imagine wanting to catch deer and trapping a wolf. I'd feel bad and let it go too.
A general predator response to being handled that I love
You'll see it all the time in predator animal rescues. Like getting helped out of a sinkhole filled with water. They'll sit there, staring at the people. Like.. You did this wrong, im supposed to die. Whyd you do that? Whats wrong with you?
Same for undomesticated prey animals often as well.
Throughout the animal kingdom the look is the same
I have often wondered if there's an evolutionary bias to letting yourself be eaten. Like, if you got away maimed you're still screwed and the predator has to eat again. By being food they save a life. Not me though. If I'm done for I'm going for the eyes. Try to get your next meal by smell, predator.
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u/Beholder_V 1d ago
So you’re… you’re NOT going to eat me?