Rastacat, the biggest forest predator that you have to worry about has 2 legs.

For wildlife, there is nothing in the CT woods that will hurt you if you don't try to mess with it. I recall reading someplace that statistically the highest group of people who suffer rattlesnake bites are males in their early 20's. The last thing people recalled hearing them say just before the bite was "hey, watch this!".

Don't leave food around if you are camping. Clean up and store your food away from your tent. Do all your cooking away from your campsite. Put all your food and smellables (that's anything that might smell good to an animal like soap, food, candy, deoderant, etc.) in a bag and suspend it from a high tree branch with a rope.

If you encounter a bear or other wildlife, make a lot of noise (shout) and try to make yourself look bigger. (raise your arms, stand up, etc.) DON'T run away. To wildlife, something running away equals FOOD. Walks away slowly and continue making noise. As has been discussed earlier in the thread, there have been no confirmed mountain lions in CT. If there were, do like the people in California. Don't travel in the woods alone, make noise when you are walking and if you see a big cat don't run away.

Out west it is recommended that in bear country you wear a bell that rings while you walk. Some people put bells, like sleigh bells, on their walking stick. That way you won't surprise a bear. They will hear you a long way off and be gone when you get to where they were.

We did have one case last year or the year before where a rabid bobcat attacked someone (in his backyard in Bristol if I recall correctly), but that is the exception.

Go out in the woods, have a good time and enjoy the outdoors! If you are still worried, carry a can of pepper spray. It will work on anything. We issue fire extiguisher sized cans to our officers for extra safety when we are dealing with bears.