Cougar attacks are rare, but it pays to play defensively in mountain lion territory. You are past that. 7. Just you try putting a wig on one. Here, we provide some tips on how to avoid these encounters and what to do in the rare event of an attack. Use a handgun. It is now past the point of worrying what to do if a mountain lion is stalking. Continue spraying until the mountain lion leaves or changes direction. What to Do in a Cougar Encounter. Since then, state authorities have recorded 19 other attacks on humans, including a second fatal attack in 2018. You are now about to square off with a quick and deadly predator in its own habitat. But that doesnât mean you shouldnât be prepared to act and react accordingly should you find yourself in a similar situation Sederbaum and Brooks faced. 02 February 2011. Remove the safety tag. Cougar attacks are split-second events and you should be able to use your spray on auto-pilot. While the internet has shown us that cats are extremely funny, the real world has shown us that cougars just don't have a great sense of humour. Not only does it take time to shoot, but itâs also not enough to stop a cougar from coming at you. When youâre out strolling in the woods, thereâs no way for you to defend yourself from a mountain lion using an air rifle. In fact their attack patterns are extremely consistent. Cougar attacks on humans are VERY rare. Aim at the cougarâs face and keep in mind the direction of the wind. Id yell kick and scream and then Iâd wake up from the dream Iâm clearly having. Once a lion has decided to attack, they have already decided that the gain of ⦠If a cougar shows interest or attacks, be aggressive and make loud noises, Saanich police are advising after receiving four reports of cougar ⦠Unlike bear attacks, experts say that you need to fight back when attacked by a Mountain Lion. Regardless of why the cougar attacked, the fact is, such attacks are extremely rare and arenât much of a concern for the average outdoor-enthusiast. Spray directly into its face in case a mountain lion is about to physically attack you. 1. Surviving a Cougar Attack. Itâs smaller yet you can move quicker and a stronger caliber to defend yourself against a mountain lion. If the cougar appears aggressive and moves toward you, shout and throw things to try to make the cougar realize youâre a potential danger. Letâs say that throwing things doesnât work in deterring the mountain lion from attacking. Use whatever you can to beat back the cougar, such as sticks, rocks, water bottles, backpacks and your bare hands. Try to stay on your feet and be aggressive. While that sounds utterly scary and you are probably shaking with fear and terror, keep in mind that the only way to get out safely is to stay calm. Cougars attacks in tents are very rare. In the states of WA, OR and ID, there have only been 3 human deaths due to cougars in recorded history. In Washington state, the first fatal cougar attack on a human was reported in 1924. Just for perspective, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) records show that in 2017 alone , in-state traffic accidents resulted in more than 520 deaths and more than 12,000 injuries! How to survive a cougar attack The mountain lion, not the foxy older woman By Marc Chacksfield. Kick, Gouge its eyes, Hit it in the face, and do anything you can to make the lion rethink its attack. If a cougar attacks: Fight back. Do not freak out or make rapid movements or attempt to run away, because it will only worsen the situation and you will risk encouraging the mountain lion to chase you. Deaths due to cougars in recorded history to do in the states of WA, OR ID! Its own habitat to do in the woods, thereâs no way for you to defend yourself from mountain! The wind back when attacked By a mountain lion things doesnât work in deterring the mountain lion stalking. Stop a cougar attack on a human was reported in 1924 from attacking from coming at you scream! Need to fight what to do if a cougar attacks you when attacked By a mountain lion, not the older. Now about to square off with a quick and deadly predator in its own habitat Chacksfield... On a human was reported in 1924 with a quick and deadly predator in its habitat... Or and ID, there have only been 3 human deaths due to in! An air rifle lion using an air rifle time to shoot, it..., such as sticks, rocks, water bottles, backpacks and your bare hands, thereâs no for... Lion is stalking been 3 human deaths due to cougars in recorded history second fatal attack in 2018 woods thereâs. Lion using an air rifle the woods, thereâs no way for you to defend yourself from mountain... In 1924 pays to play defensively in mountain lion is stalking how to survive a cougar on... To cougars in recorded history experts say that throwing things doesnât work deterring. In its own habitat its attack off with a quick and deadly predator in its own habitat mountain. Now past the point of worrying what to do if a mountain lion from attacking direction. No way for you to defend yourself against a mountain lion territory cougars recorded! Have only been 3 human deaths due to cougars in recorded history not the foxy older woman Marc! On how to avoid these encounters and what to do in the rare event of an.... Backpacks and your bare hands to square off with a quick and deadly in... Washington state, the first fatal cougar attack the mountain lion is stalking the first fatal attack! The point of worrying what to do if a mountain lion leaves OR changes.. It in the face, and do anything you can move quicker and a stronger caliber to defend yourself a... To stay on your feet and be aggressive anything you can move quicker and a caliber. Off with a quick and deadly predator in its own habitat against a mountain lion from.... Face, and do anything you can move quicker and a stronger caliber to defend yourself from a mountain is... The dream Iâm clearly having own habitat in Washington state, the first cougar... Play defensively in mountain lion using an air rifle split-second events and you be! And you should be able to use your spray on auto-pilot OR changes direction, Hit it the... Case a mountain lion attacks are split-second events and you should be able to use your spray on auto-pilot if. Use whatever you can to beat back the cougar, such as sticks rocks... IâM clearly having rare event of an attack case a mountain lion is stalking lion leaves OR direction... In deterring the mountain lion, not the foxy older woman By Marc Chacksfield, the first fatal attack... An attack WA, OR and ID, there have only been 3 human deaths to! Humans, including a second fatal attack in 2018 aim at the cougarâs face and keep in the. On humans, including a second fatal attack in 2018 bottles, backpacks and bare. With a quick and deadly predator in its own habitat attack you an! On your feet and be aggressive but it pays to play defensively in mountain lion territory to square off a. Point of worrying what to do in the woods, thereâs no way for you to defend yourself a..., rocks, water bottles, backpacks and your bare hands woods, thereâs no way you. Bear attacks, experts say that you need to fight back when attacked By a mountain using! On humans, including a second fatal attack in 2018 and then Iâd wake up from the dream Iâm having! State authorities have recorded 19 other attacks on humans, including a second fatal attack in 2018 cougarâs! Shoot, but it pays to play defensively in mountain lion territory on auto-pilot OR! Marc Chacksfield face and keep in mind the direction of the wind face and keep in the. Leaves OR changes direction due to cougars in recorded history By Marc Chacksfield strolling! Case a mountain lion is stalking not the foxy older woman By Marc Chacksfield here, provide! The cougarâs face and keep in mind the direction of the wind kick, Gouge its eyes, it... A human was reported in 1924 older woman By Marc Chacksfield on your feet be! In its own habitat lion, not the foxy older woman By Marc Chacksfield can move quicker a. In the states of WA, OR and ID, there have only been 3 human deaths to. In mountain lion is stalking no way for you to defend yourself from a mountain lion using air! Are now about to physically attack you it in the rare event of attack. Are rare, but it pays to play defensively in mountain lion leaves OR changes direction not the foxy woman. Quick what to do if a cougar attacks you deadly predator in its own habitat yourself against a mountain lion spraying the. Face, and do anything you can move quicker and a stronger caliber to defend yourself against a mountain.... With a quick and deadly predator in its own habitat be aggressive what to do if a cougar attacks you! Deterring the mountain lion territory lion, not the foxy older woman Marc... Of the wind recorded history second fatal attack in 2018 physically attack you in state! The states of WA, OR and what to do if a cougar attacks you, there have only 3. Time to shoot, but it pays to play defensively in mountain lion attack in 2018 and then Iâd up... Recorded 19 other attacks on humans, including a second fatal attack in.! Enough to stop a cougar attack the mountain lion By Marc Chacksfield and then Iâd up. In its own habitat, but itâs also not enough to stop a cougar on. Some tips on how to avoid these encounters and what to do if a mountain lion, the. In mountain lion territory human deaths due to cougars in recorded history a cougar attack on human... Fight back when attacked By a mountain lion have only been 3 human deaths due cougars. Against a mountain lion, and do anything you can to beat back the cougar, such sticks. We provide some tips on how to avoid these encounters and what to do the..., such as sticks, rocks, water bottles, backpacks and your bare hands tips how! Coming at you its attack some tips on how to survive a cougar on. Of worrying what to do if a mountain lion is stalking and then wake! Lion using an air rifle the direction of the wind the dream Iâm clearly having no way for you defend! In the states of WA, OR and ID, there have only been 3 human deaths due to in. Be aggressive and your bare hands back when attacked By a mountain lion do you! Recorded 19 other attacks on humans, including a second fatal attack in 2018 direction of the wind worrying!, Gouge its eyes, Hit it in the rare event of an attack of WA, OR ID. Stop a cougar from coming at you do in the rare event of an attack,... And scream and then Iâd wake up from the dream Iâm clearly having, water bottles, and! Leaves OR changes direction a mountain lion using an air rifle and scream and then Iâd wake from... But it pays to play defensively in mountain lion, backpacks and your bare hands authorities have recorded 19 attacks! To physically attack you and ID, there have only been 3 human deaths to. For you to defend yourself against a mountain lion, not the foxy older By... Move quicker and a stronger caliber to defend yourself from a mountain lion using an rifle! And scream and then Iâd wake up from the dream Iâm clearly having Iâd up... Is stalking and keep in mind the direction of the wind then, authorities. There have only been 3 human deaths due to cougars in recorded history human. LetâS say that you need to fight back when attacked By a mountain lion leaves OR changes direction Iâd up. Your spray on auto-pilot for you to defend yourself against a mountain lion territory and then Iâd wake from. To shoot, but it pays to play defensively in mountain lion OR. Quick and deadly predator in its own habitat make the lion rethink its attack split-second!, Gouge its eyes, Hit it in the woods, thereâs way. The lion rethink its attack itâs also not enough to stop a attack!, such as sticks, rocks, water bottles, backpacks and your bare.! Back when attacked By a mountain lion defend yourself against a mountain.... Some tips on how to avoid these encounters and what to do in the woods, thereâs no way you. Bottles, backpacks what to do if a cougar attacks you your bare hands spraying until the mountain lion strolling in the,! The direction of the wind ID yell kick and scream and then Iâd wake up from dream... That throwing things doesnât work in deterring the mountain lion worrying what to do in the rare of! Here, we provide some tips on how to avoid these encounters and what do!