Cougars & Outdoor Recreation
Recreation in Cougar Country
By taking preventative measures whenever you are in cougar country, you can help limit human-cougar encounters.
Before You Go
- Find family or friends to go with. Cougars are less likely to approach groups of people.
- Ensure your bear spray has not yet expired and air horn or other noise deterrents are working. Make sure you know how
to use them.
- Contact a Fish and Wildlife or Tourism, Parks and Recreation office. Find out if cougar or other wildlife activity has
been reported in the area you are about to visit.
- Leave your dog at home. If you must bring your dog, ensure it is kept close and on a leash at all times.
- Talk to those in your group. Make an informed plan for how the group will respond if you see a cougar.
- Charge your cell phone batteries and pack your cell phone.
- Prepare children for staying safe in cougar territory. Teach them to:
- Stay between the adults of the group and not run ahead or fall behind.
- Never run away from cougars or show fear by screaming.
- Always fight back and never give up if a cougar makes contact.
When in Cougar Country
- Keep your bear spray and noise deterrent on your belt or in a chest holster so you can access it quickly
- Do not wear your mp3 player or anything else that might interfere with your ability to see clearly or hear the sounds
that can alert you to the presence of wildlife.
- Carry a walking stick, which can be used as a potential weapon against a cougar
- Make a lot of noise to avoid surprise encounters with cougars, or other wildlife
- Don't let anyone in the group wander off alone, especially children
- Always keep your dog close and on leash
- Be extra wary along tree lines, rock outcroppings or under ledges
- Be alert. Always watch for wildlife behind and ahead of you
- Watch for signs that a cougar has recently been in the area:
- Tracks, scrapes and fresh kills. Cougars will bury their kills, and the buried kill may be difficult to spot. If you see
part of an animal beneath a pile of leaves and grasses, assume you have located a cougar kill and leave the area.
- Flocks of ravens or magpies may indicate a kill site where either cougars or bears could be found feeding
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Cougar track in mud
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Buried kill
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Cougar scat (feces)
with tracks
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Updated: Aug 11, 2011