Cougars, also known as mountain lions, pumas, or panthers, are powerful and elusive predators found across various landscapes in the Americas. While these animals generally prefer to avoid human contact, understanding their behavior is important for safety in areas where they live. Understanding how and why encounters might occur can help reduce risks.
Why Cougar Encounters Occur
Cougar encounters, including attacks, are rare events, with North America seeing approximately 4 to 6 per year and around 28 fatalities over the last 100 years. These incidents often stem from specific circumstances that alter a cougar’s natural avoidance of humans.
As human populations expand into wild areas, habitat encroachment can lead to more frequent interactions between people and cougars. A decrease in natural prey, such as deer, can compel cougars to seek food closer to human settlements, increasing the likelihood of encounters. Young, inexperienced cougars, typically between one and two years old, are involved in a higher percentage of human conflicts as they disperse from their mothers and attempt to establish their own territories. Furthermore, an injured, sick, or rabid cougar may behave unpredictably and pose a greater risk due to impaired hunting abilities or altered disposition.
Cougars may also act defensively if they perceive a threat to their cubs or are protecting a recent kill. Certain human behaviors can inadvertently trigger a cougar’s predatory instincts; for instance, running or jogging can mimic the movements of prey animals, prompting a chase response. Similarly, the small size of children can make them appear more like potential prey, increasing their vulnerability during an encounter.
How to Avoid Cougar Encounters
Traveling in groups is beneficial, as multiple people are less likely to be perceived as prey by a cougar. Keeping children and pets close and supervised is important, particularly because their smaller size and movements can attract a cougar’s attention.
Making noise while hiking, by talking or singing, alerts cougars to your presence and gives them time to move away to prevent surprise encounters. Avoiding outdoor activities during dawn and dusk, when cougars are most active and hunting, lowers your risk.
Around homes, securing food and garbage helps prevent attracting prey animals, which can draw cougars to the area. Being aware of cougar signs can provide early warnings of their presence. Look for tracks, which typically show four toes without claw marks and an M-shaped heel pad. Cougar scat is segmented, often contains hair and bone, and may be found in prominent locations. Additionally, tree scratches or partially buried animal carcasses, known as caches, indicate recent cougar activity and should be avoided.
What to Do During a Cougar Encounter
Do not run, as this can trigger the cougar’s natural chase instinct and escalate the situation. Instead, face the cougar directly and maintain eye contact to demonstrate that you are aware of its presence and are not prey.
Make yourself appear as large as possible by waving your arms, opening your jacket, or standing on higher ground like a rock or stump. If you have small children, pick them up immediately to prevent them from running and to keep them protected. Speak loudly and firmly, shouting or making aggressive noises to deter the animal.
Slowly back away from the cougar, allowing it an escape route and avoiding any sudden movements. If the cougar does not retreat and shows aggressive behavior, such as crouching or hissing, throw objects at it without turning your back. In the rare event of an attack, fight back with all available means, using rocks, sticks, or your bare hands, focusing on the cougar’s face and eyes. Do not play dead. Bear spray can also be an effective deterrent if you have it.