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Cougars: Close Encounters
Cougar attacks on humans are extremely rare. In North America, around 20 fatalities and 100 non-fatal attacks have been reported during the past 100 years. However, more cougar attacks have been reported in the western United States and Canada over the past 20 years than in the previous 80. In Washington, one fatal cougar attack was recorded in 1924. Since then 12 non-fatal attacks have been recorded, 11 of them since 1992.
If living in cougar country, especially wooded foothills:
- Keep pets indoors or in secure kennels at night for safety.
- If practical, bring farm animals into enclosed sheds or barns at night, especially during calving or lambing seasons.
- Do not leave pet food or food scraps outside.
- Store garbage in cans with tight-fitting lids so odors do not attract small mammals.
- When children are playing outdoors, closely supervise them and be sure they are indoors by dusk.
- Light walkways and remove any heavy vegetation or landscaping near the house.
- Avoid feeding wildlife or landscaping with shrubs and plants that deer prefer to eat. Remember, predators follow prey.
While recreating in cougar habitat you can avoid close encounters by taking the following precautions:
- Hike in small groups and make enough noise to prevent surprising a cougar. Avoid hiking alone.
- Keep small children close to the group, preferably in plain sight just ahead of you.
- Do not approach dead animals, especially recently killed or partially covered deer and elk.
- Be aware of your surroundings, particularly when hiking in dense cover or when sitting, crouching or lying down. Look for tracks, scratch piles, and partially covered droppings.
- Keep a clean camp. Reduce odors that may attract small mammals like racoons, which in turn attract cougars. Store meat, other foods, pet food, and garbage in double plastic bags.
- Do not leave your pet tied at a campsite, which may also attract cougars. Better yet, leave “Rover” at home when camping or hiking.
Thousands of people spend time in Washington’s wildlands each year, yet relatively few will catch a glimpse of a cougar, much less confront one. If you do come face to face with a cougar, your actions can either help or hinder a quick retreat by the lion. Here are some tips.
- Stop, stand tall and don’t run. Pick up small children immediately. Running and rapid movements may trigger an attack. Remember, a cougar’s instinct is to chase.
- Face the cougar, talk to it firmly and slowly back away. Always leave the animal an escape route.
- Try to appear larger than the cougar by getting above it. (e.g., stepping up onto a stump). If wearing a jacket, hold it open to further increase your size.
- Do not take your eyes off the animal or turn your back. Do not crouch down or try to hide.
- Never approach the animal, especially if it is near a kill or with kittens. Never corner the animal or offer it food.
- If the animal does not flee and shows signs of aggression (crouches with ears back, teeth bared, hissing, tail twitching, and hind feet pumping in preparation to jump), be more assertive. Shout, wave your arms and throw rocks. The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger.
- If the cougar attacks, fight back aggressively and try to stay on your feet. Cougars have been driven away by people who have fought back using anything within reach, including sticks, rocks, shovels, backpacks, and clothing — even your bare hands. Generally, if you are aggressive enough, a cougar will flee, realizing it has made a mistake.
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