Stay Safe Hiking and Camping In Cougar Country


Imagine yourself walking down the trail when you hear a slight rustling coming from the bushes. You slowly begin to take a few steps back only to have a cougar leap out from the bushes. Wrestling off a massive cat is next to impossible.

It takes a special type of person to fight off a cougar. Hopefully I’ll never have to test my luck.

Every year I seem to hear more stories of cougar attacks. The largest of all North American cats weighing in at more than 150lbs and 8 feet long including the tail. At that size it’s no surprise cougars can be downright deadly to hikers.

Why are There So Many Cougars?

To protect the species most of the bounty hunting programs came to an end in the 1960’s . From there on out only the rare hunter gets the chance to bag a big cat.

Since then their populations have quickly risen throughout the western United States. Nobody knows for sure how many cougars are still alive, but in California alone populations have grown to well over 6000(from 2000 when hunting was banned).

At the same time the number of hikers in cougar country rises every year. This leads to more encounters than ever before. From western Texas to California, make sure you keep an eye out for cougars.

How Dangerous are Cougars?

Even though cougar attacks on hikers are constantly rising the chances of actually being attacked are very slim. You’re much more likely to get killed falling and hitting your head on the trail than attacked by a cougar.

However, if you do actually encounter one they are extremely dangerous. My 10lb has torn me up on more than one occasion. I can hardly image what a 150lb cat would do to me.

What Should You Do If Attacked By a Cougar

The odds of being struck by lightning are slim, but that doesn’t stop us from learning how to stay safe hiking in a storm. Learning how to handle a cougar attack is important for anybody hiking in cougar country.

When you first spot a cougar try to get as big as you possibly can. Attacks are rare and most of the time they’ll pass you up for an easier meal.

If you are actually attacked you need to fight back(versus playing dead with a grizzly). Bite, gouge eyes, do everything in your power to get away, your life depends on it.

Sticks and Pepper Spray

Most of the time hitting a cougar with a big stick or fishing pole is enough to scare him away. It’s a quick reminder that you’re not as easy to kill as his last meal.

I highly recommend carrying a big trekking pole(something like this will work) when hiking through cougar country. Not only will it help you navigate difficult terrain it’s also a sturdy weapon.

Pepper spray is another great option that you should probably carry in the woods anyway. You don’t even need to carry around a big can of bear spray. The same can of pepper spray women carry in their purse will work on most cats(here’s a great product).

Tips For Hiking Near Cougars

Hopefully you’ll never come face to face with a hungry cougar. The following tips should help protect your family and minimize encounters.

1) Watch Your Children

Most attacks out in the woods are on small children. It’s no surprise since they are about the same size as the cats traditional prey. Though that doesn’t stop them from taking on animals much larger than them(Elk and Cattle), so don’t underestimate them.

Keep a close eye on your youngsters when you’re out on a hike. Particularly when playing in wooded areas around dusk and dawn. That’s when cougars are most active and on the prowl for a small snack. Children walking around “willy nilly” in the woods are easy prey for a big cat.

2) Learn to Read Paw Prints

The best way to know if there are big cats around is to look for their paw prints. That’s easier said than done. It can be extremely difficult to differentiate between a large dog and cougar print.

Cougar prints are about the same size as a human palm, yet rounded and rarely have claw marks. Large dog prints can be just as big, but they walk heavy leaving behind nail marks.

If you come across a bunch of big prints keep an eye out. You might even stumble across a partially eaten deer carcass. Sometimes they’re hidden under leaves and grass. Give the area a wide birth and obviously avoid setting up camp.

3) Do Your Homework Before Setting Out

Since cougars are very secretive and rarely seen, most of us think they’re rare. While that may be true in certain parts of the country, they aren’t rare in others.

When doing your pretrip research ask the land management rangers if there are cougars in the area. They should be able to point you in the direction of a safe camping area nearby.

4) Know How to Respond

Most cougar encounters happen at a safe distance. This results in a sense of wonderment with very little danger. Just like riding your first rollercoaster you’ll feel a shiver down your back.

You should also get excited whenever you see a fresh track. How boring would the American wilderness be without bears, wolves and cougars? Just make sure you’re the one looking for the cat, and he’s not looking for you.

5) Travel in Groups

When hiking in cougar country, travel in small groups. Being a solitary creature they know they can’t fight off more than one person. Or maybe they can, but they’ll still take a small beating.

Carry walking sticks, survival knives, pepper spray etc. to fight them off. Keep your small children close by and make sure you pay extra attention in low sunlight.

Groups carrying on in the woods will quickly scare off even the nosiest cat. Remember they don’t like to be seen. Once they know there’s a group of people on the trail they’ll high tail it out of there.

Other Useful Tips

  • Never Run: Running is going to draw a lot of attention. Have you ever seen a cat play with a mouse. They wait for them to run and then they pounce. If you’re small and alone the swift movement will make you look like a tasty little deer.
  • See a Cougar Far Away: If you see a cougar and he’s more than 50 yards away gather up your children and walk away. Keep non-threatening eye contact with the cougar so he knows you’ve seen him. Point him out to your kids and slowly walk away making sure you aren’t being stalked.
  • Cougar is Closeby: You need to get a little bit worried if the animal is closeby. Remember that his whole life is finding food and eating for survival. Cougars don’t just stumble upon you, he knows you’re there, and there’s only one reason he’d be that close. If he’s staring intently and creeping towards you he’s ready to attack. Make aggressive eye contact, speak loudly towards him and get big, you need to be ready for an attack. Whatever you do don’t run, because that will stimulate his attack reflex.
  • What if He Attacks: If the cougar attacks, all you can do is fight back with everything you have. Use rocks, sticks, knives, pepper spray everything you can possibly get your hands on to fight him off. When you get knocked down quickly get back up. If he sees you as a threat your chances of survival are high.

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