How do you fight a cougar attack?
Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly in a loud voice. If looking bigger doesn’t scare the mountain lion off, without crouching or turning your back, start throwing stones, branches, or whatever you can reach in its direction (e.g., toward it, but not directly at it).
Do mountain lions normally attack humans?
Attacks on humans are uncommon. A person is one thousand times more likely to be struck by lightning than attacked by a mountain lion, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Since 1986, there have been 19 verified attacks — three of them fatal.
Can a human beat 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.
Should you throw a rock at a cougar?
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.
Do cougars eat humans?
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.”
Are cougars aggressive?
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.
What do you do if a cougar chases you?
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.