What to do if you see a cougar while hiking?

Remain calm. Hold your ground or back away slowly. Continue facing the mountain lion, and maintain eye contact. Do all you can to appear larger; Stand upright, raise your arms, raise your walking stick, open your jacket.

Do cougars attack hikers?

It is said that if you spot a cougar while on the trail, there's a good chance that the cougar wanted you to spot it—and that it's been hot on your trail for the past half hour. Gulp. Here's what we do know: cougars very rarely attack people. In fact, cougars very rarely interact with people.

What to do when you spot a cougar?

Make yourself look big – stand tall, raise your arms and spread your legs. Maintain eye contact and don't turn your head – stay focused on the cougar. Make loud noises – yell, clap your hands, use a bear bell, or bang things together. Don't leave until the cougar leaves – be sure the cougar has moved on before you ...

How do you avoid cougars when hiking?

Should you make eye contact with a cougar?

Maintain eye contact. Never run past or away from a mountain lion. Don't bend over or crouch down. Aggressively wave your arms, throw stones or branches, do not turn away.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ENCOUNTER A MOUNTAIN LION

Should I be scared of cougars?

The vast majority of mountain lions are totally non-threatening to humans. They prey on deer and smaller animals, but by and large, not people. You likely won't even know there are cougars in the area, as they are so skittish. However, if you do see a mountain lion, the situation is likely serious.

Will a cougar eat a human?

They are powerful cats that can leap horizontally up to twenty feet and vertically up to sixteen feet. Cougars are solitary animals and like to hunt without being noticed. A cougar preying on humans is rare but does happen from time to time. Teddy Roosevelt, in 1901 states that cougar attacks “are exceedingly rare.”

What are cougars afraid of?

Cougar Signs

Experts such as Debra Chase, CEO of the Mountain Lion Foundation, say that cougars are mostly afraid of humans and don't see us as potential prey. Occasionally, though, humans fool them. Quick movements, such as running or bicycling, which make humans resemble prey, sometimes lead to cougar attacks.

How do you defend against a cougar?

Directly face the cougar, but look at the cougar's feet, not directly into their eyes, to avoid appearing aggressive. If the cougar displays aggressive behavior try to appear larger—raise your arms or open your jacket over your head. Make noise by yelling, blowing a whistle or an air horn.

How can you tell if a mountain lion is near?

If a cougar is in the area and you are lucky enough to detect its presence, most often it will be due to “cougar sign” and not actually seeing the animal. These signs are evidence left behind after a cougar has passed through. Cougar signs include tracks, scat, scratches and cached (partially buried) prey.

Are cougars aggressive to humans?

Cougars are dangerous to humans and pose a risk to those living or recreating in rural areas. Cougars are the most elusive and least aggressive of the world's large cats. They are afraid of people and do not recognize or seek us out as prey. They want to avoid you and not be seen.

Can a human fight off a cougar?

Humans are capable of fending off cougars, as adult humans are generally larger. It is even possible for humans to win a fight against a cougar, such as the case of Travis Kauffman, who choked a cougar to death when attacked while jogging.

Does pepper spray work on cougars?

It's a wonderful defense against mountain lions (also known as cougars, pumas, or panthers). They, like all cats, have extremely sensitive noses and don't like having them abused. So, they'll respond swiftly to a dose of pepper spray, meaning they'll almost always beat a hasty retreat.

Can cougars climb trees?

Cougars are excellent climbers. Not only can they simply leap vertically up to 25 feet, they have highly-curved retractable claws that allow them to grip the tree for climbing. Mountain lion paws are 3" to 5" wide, and they are about as long as wide, so their tracks are described as square or circular.

Should you throw things at a cougar?

6. Throw something. Throwing a rock or a small broken branch at a mountain lion could scare it away, but it could anger it, too. It's a delicate situation, but you want to avoid a physical confrontation with an animal at all costs.

Should you scream at a mountain lion?

You do not want to give the mountain lion any reason to think you are prey. Attempt to appear larger by raising your arms and opening your jacket. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice, like this guy does. Bang your hiking sticks together or clap your hands while yelling.

Do you scream at a mountain lion?

You can yell words, swear, or just scream at the cougar, so long as you sound aggressive. This may also attract assistance from others that will help scare the cougar away. Do not try to calm the cougar down with gentle language – it will not work.

Will bear spray stop a cougar?

If you carry bear spray, make sure you know how to use it and keep it within reach whenever you might encounter a bear. If your initial body language doesn't defuse the situation, wait until the bear is within fifteen feet to discharge the spray. Bear spray works equally effectively on mountain lions.

Do Airhorns scare mountain lions?

The Mountain Lion Foundation and others tell hikers to carry personal alarms or air horns to scare animals. Some experts, however, say it's not really known how animals react to such devices.

Will a whistle scare a mountain lion?

Trails with sharp turn are the most crucial but I recommend all outdoor enthusiasts carry a $2 whistle and/or use a horn. If you blow the whistle every few minutes on a bike (and at every corner) you will avoid a surprise encounter with wildlife.”

How common are cougar attacks?

Even still, attacks by mountain lions are still incredibly rare, according to the experts. In the past 100 years, there have been fewer than 20 human fatalities as a result of cougar attacks, Cullens said. Williams described the risk of being attacked by cougars as "extremely low."

How strong is a cougar bite?

Cougar 724.6 PSI (50.9 kg/cm2) A puma or a cougar is not only one of the fastest animals in the world, but it also has a really strong bite. Cougars hunt for a variety of animals: from squirrels and rabbits to wild pigs and moose.

Can cougars be friendly?

Though a privately owned cougar will eventually grow accustomed to its owners, it can never be domesticated like a dog or a cat. The best you can hope for is a docile — and sometimes playful — pet that won't crush you to death with its powerful jaw.

Will a mountain lion stalk a human?

If a mountain lion attacks you, you probably won't see it coming. Even though they're big, they're also very quiet, and will generally stalk and pounce. But sometimes you will see them when they're curious and maybe sizing you up to determine if you're prey.