Cougars, also known as mountain lions or pumas, are apex predators with the largest range of any terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. Although they are formidable hunters, they are inherently elusive animals that actively avoid human contact. Their natural behavior overwhelmingly favors discretion over confrontation with people. Confirmed attacks on humans are extremely rare occurrences.
The Natural Disposition of Cougars
Cougars are solitary animals, establishing large, well-defined territories. Their diet primarily consists of large ungulates like deer and elk. They are typically most active during the crepuscular hours of dawn and dusk, or throughout the night, using this time to hunt.
This nocturnal and crepuscular activity pattern is a behavioral adaptation that minimizes encounters with humans. Studies in the wildland-urban interface show that cougars often utilize areas near human development almost exclusively at night. Their instinctual fear means a cougar is generally aware of a human presence long before a person is aware of the cougar. This avoidance is the baseline for cougar behavior.
The Contexts of Human-Cougar Conflict
Conflict arises when this natural avoidance mechanism breaks down, leading to an attack driven by specific, identifiable circumstances. One common factor is mistaken identity, where a cougar perceives a human, pet, or child as a natural prey animal. This predatory response is often triggered by erratic, quick movements such as running, jogging, or biking, which mimic the flight of prey.
Children are statistically more vulnerable because their small size and high-pitched vocalizations can make them difficult for a cougar to identify as a human, especially when they are unsupervised. Attacks can also be defensive, occurring when a person stumbles upon a cougar’s cached kill, which the animal will vigorously defend. Similarly, a female cougar will act aggressively to protect her young.
A more complex cause of conflict is habituation, which occurs when a cougar loses its inherent fear of humans due to repeated access to easy food sources near human settlements. This can involve preying on unprotected livestock or domestic pets in the wildland-urban interface. The presence of deer and other natural prey drawn to residential areas also pulls cougars closer to people.
The total number of fatal cougar attacks in North America over the last 100 to 150 years is less than 30. This averages out to approximately one fatality every five years across the entire continent. While over 130 non-fatal attacks have been reported, the overall risk remains low compared to other common outdoor risks. The vast majority of cougars sighted simply move away, underscoring that human-cougar interactions are overwhelmingly non-aggressive.
Necessary Safety Protocols
Living or recreating in cougar country requires adopting proactive safety measures that reinforce the cougar’s natural avoidance of people. Preventing accidental encounters begins with hiking in groups and making noise, such as talking loudly or clapping, to alert any nearby cougars to your presence. Avoid hiking during the cougar’s peak activity hours, typically from dusk until dawn.
Around a home, securing potential food attractants is important for prevention. This includes feeding pets indoors, keeping livestock or poultry in secure, covered enclosures, and ensuring garbage is stored in containers with tight-fitting lids. Removing dense vegetation or brush near the home also eliminates potential hiding spots.
If an encounter does occur, the rule is to never run, as this will immediately trigger the cougar’s predatory chase instinct. Instead, immediately pick up any small children or pets and stand your ground, facing the animal. The goal is to appear large and intimidating by raising your arms, opening your jacket, and speaking loudly and firmly. Maintaining eye contact and throwing rocks or sticks toward the animal is appropriate to deter it. If the cougar makes physical contact, you must fight back aggressively, focusing your attack on the cougar’s face and eyes, to convince the animal that you are a threat.