When you lace up your shoes to go for a morning run and find four wild cougars on your back deck eating and chilling out, it changes your day's plans.

That's what happened to Andy Davis, who lives in Conifer, Colorado. Davis related the story to KDVR and said he's seen deer, elk, bears and other animals, but not mountain lions.

“The mom of the mountain lions hopped up on the patio," he said. "I reached over real slow to grab my phone and snap a couple pictures and then right behind her came the three babies. I was just amazed. My whole life I’ve been waiting to see cats. Never seen a mountain lion the whole time I’ve lived up there."

Um, There's a Cougar

Colorado's blessed with incredible natural resources. Whether you're into running ultramarathons, hunting big game, fishing or chilling out, you can find it somewhere in the state.

This includes apex predators, of course. Colorado Parks & Wildlife says this about mountain lions:

Mountain lions are generally calm, quiet, and elusive. They tend to live in remote, primitive country with plentiful deer and adequate cover. Such conditions exist in mountain subdivisions, urban fringes, and open spaces. Recently, the number of mountain lion/human interactions has increased. This increase is likely due to a variety of reasons, such as:

• ​More people moving into lion habitat
• Increase in deer populations and density
• Presumed increase in lion numbers and expanded range
• More people using hiking and running trails in lion habitat
• A greater awareness of the presence of lions.

If You See a Cougar

Hey, you never know if you might see a cougar in the wild when you're fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, riding your trail bike or getting ready at 6 a.m. for a morning run. The dude in the video above didn't think he'd see one on his back porch; fortunately he was in the house and not in the woods.

If you are in the woods, though, and don't have any weapon to help defend yourself, Colorado Parks & Wildlife recommends this:

• Go in groups when you walk or hike in mountain lion country, and make plenty of noise to reduce your chances of surprising a lion. A sturdy walking stick is a good idea; it can be used to ward off a lion. Make sure children are close to you and within your sight at all times. Talk with children about lions and teach them what to do if they meet one.
• Do not approach a lion, especially one that is feeding or with kittens. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
• Stay calm when you come upon a lion. Talk calmly and firmly to it. Move slowly.
• Stop or back away slowly, if you can do it safely. Running may stimulate a lion's instinct to chase and attack. Face the lion and stand upright.
• Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you're wearing one. If you have small children with you, protect them by picking them up so they won't panic and run.
• If the lion behaves aggressively, throw stones, branches or whatever you can get your hands on without crouching down or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly. What you want to do is convince the lion you are not prey and that you may in fact be a danger to the lion.
• Fight back if a lion attacks you. Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back. People have fought back with rocks, sticks, caps or jackets, garden tools and their bare hands successfully. Remain standing or try to get back up!