Cougar Safety: Strategies for Encounters in Washington

CougarPhoto byAndy HolmesonUnsplash

Per the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, seeing a cougar in Washington is relatively rare. That doesn’t mean they’re never seen but rather prefer to be more reclusive and hide to avoid being caught. Getting to see a live cougar 

If they hear you, they are more likely to hide. Unfortunately, there have been a few rare instances in Washington where cougars have attacked people.

Cougars are the largest member of the cat family. Full-grown adult male cougars can weigh as much as 140 pounds. They can travel long distances, which sometimes brings them into inappropriate areas that have been densely settled by humans.

While these encounters are typically brief, and the animal moves away quickly, not all situations are so cut and dried. Sometimes, the cougar stumbles upon a farm where there are plenty of livestock to choose from. Unfortunately, this can spell disaster for pets and livestock.

Human attacks by a cougar are rare in Washington State; however, they do happen. Just a few short years ago, a young girl was attacked while at church camp. Her friends and several adults rescued her, and the cougar was dispatched.

If you live in an area where cougars have been sighted, you’ll want to know how to protect yourself and your property from cougars.

It’s important to understand what would be attractive to a cougar. They want an easy meal that requires minimal effort. So, making it harder for them to access your property is important. Modify the habitat by using these strategies:

Add lighting that comes on either as a motion detector or after dark.

Keep shrubs and trees pruned up to several feet so that cougars can’t hide behind them.

If deer frequent your yard, then a cougar may follow in hopes of an easy meal. So, you’ll want to deer-proof your yard to help prevent deer from entering it.

Choose plants that deer don’t like.

While it’s expensive, installing a heavy woven wire fence that is ten feet high with 3-foot extensions at a 65-degree angle may help to reduce deer (and thus cougars ) from entering your yard. Some people also string two to three strands of barbed wire across the top or add an electric fence between the extensions.

Make sure to keep trash picked up and put in containers with lids that can be sealed shut or locked.

Avoid feeding wildlife of any kind in your yard.

Close off open spaces underneath structures. Porches and decks can offer shelter for animals of prey.

Feed dogs and cats inside. If you have to feed them outside, choose morning or midday and remove food and water bowls as soon as your pets are done eating. Leftover food can invite cougars and other predators.

Keep house pets indoors from dusk to dawn. Smaller pets may be easy prey for cougars after dusk and through the dawn hours.

Small animals and livestock, such as sheep, goats, chickens, and other livestock, are attractive meals to cougars. Make sure to keep them in secure pens and away from forested areas.

Consider getting a livestock dog to help defend your livestock. Make sure your purchase is from a reputable breeder who knows and understands what you’re looking for. Some breeders offer guarantees on their animals. Many even offer a replacement if the animal doesn’t perform as you need it to.

If You Do Encounter A Cougar

First and foremost, DO NOT RUN. Cougars see you running as prey. They will chase you.

If you’re with a group, cluster together and be very loud. Cougars want easy prey and don’t want to challenge a larger animal, so if you cluster together and are very loud, they are likely to think of you as a larger animal and leave you alone.

• Stop, pick up small children immediately, and don’t run. Running and rapid movements may trigger an attack. Remember, at close range, a cougar’s instinct is to chase.
• Face the cougar. Talk to it firmly while slowly backing away. Always leave the animal an escape route.
• Try to appear larger than the cougar. Get above it (e.g., step up onto a rock or stump). If wearing a jacket, hold it open to increase your apparent size further. If you are in a group, stand shoulder-to-shoulder to appear intimidating.
• Do not take your eyes off the cougar or turn your back. Do not crouch down or try to hide.
• Never approach the cougar, especially if it is near a kill or with kittens, and never offer it food.
• If the cougar does not flee, be more assertive. The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey but a potential danger.
• If the cougar attacks, fight back. Be aggressive and try to stay on your feet. People who have fought back using anything within reach, including sticks, rocks, shovels, backpacks, clothing, and even bare hands, have driven away cougars.

People who have fought back using anything within reach, including sticks, rocks, shovels, backpacks, clothing, and even bare hands, have driven away cougars.

You can download a PDF file here from the Washington State Fish and Game Department.

Another more extensive guide can be found here. It goes into more detail about cougars, their habitat, and how to avoid becoming prey. Have you ever seen a cougar in the wild? Share your experience with us in the comment section.

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