That isn’t just talk — cougars are hard to see!
Somewhere on Vancouver Island, 2023
Like most wild animals, they avoid us but apparently can tolerate being near us, which leads to problems, especially with dispersing young males:
Since this cat is big enough to hurt us, here are some useful tips from Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba and a video (from the Lower 48) on what to do if you encounter one:
…Over 130 attacks have been reported in [1][failed verification] North America in the past 100 years, with 28 attacks resulting in fatalities. Fatal cougar attacks are extremely rare and occur much less frequently than fatal snake bites, fatal lightning strikes, or fatal bee stings.[2][3][4] Generally, humans are not considered as prey by carnivores, including cougars. Children, however, are particularly vulnerable…
More information on cougars:
- Cougars in Alberta’s Waterton Lakes National Park
- Cougars in eastern Canada
- What about Ontario?
- Cat Specialist Group feature — yes, this cat ranges from the tip of South America up into British Columbia and the Yukon!
Featured image: Sign in the Vancouver region warning park hikers about cougars, by Bobex-73/Shutterstock
Flight To Wonder 