WATCH: Idaho Wildlife Tech Has Harrowing Mountain Lion Encounter

A southwest Idaho wildlife staffer had a close call recently when she wandered upon a full-grown mountain lion supervising her two cubs feasting on a deer carcass.

Crossing paths with a mountain lion has to be one of the most terrifying wildlife ordeals a person can experience. These adult cats are expert hunters, and most people don't get the chance to see them approaching as they are so stealthy.

It's estimated that there have been roughly 27 fatal cougar attacks in North America in the past century, according to data provided by the Oregon Legislative Assembly. Attacks on humans are very rare, but encounters in the wild still happen on a regular basis.

Idaho Wildlife Tech Accidentally Crosses Paths With A Mountain Lion And Cubs

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Bear and cougars are known to get aggressive when humans are near their offspring or they are starved, which makes a recent encounter in Owyhee County incredibly fortunate. The odds of the animal attacking in this case were very high due to the facts that the cats were feeding, and a human wandered close by.

READ MORE: Large Cat Mistaken For Lion In Neighboring Washington State

A video released by the Idaho Department of Fish & Game a few days ago shows a large cougar approach the worker who was investigating a 'cause of death,' according to Local News 8. Luckily, the tech had a whistle on her that might have been the reason she was able to walk away without incident.