Everything You Need to Know About Cougars: Part 3

Welcome to the third installment of our series of blogs about Cougars! Today, we will look at how rare Cougar attacks are and how to prevent conflicts with Cougars on your property!

Cougars can be Dangerous…

Since Cougars can travel long distances, it is only natural for them to end up in areas such as residential neighborhoods. Generally, these appearances are brief, with the Cougar merely passing through on its way to find a more suitable place to go about its life (1). However, in areas where humans occupy areas that are in or near wildlife habitat, such as Ocean Shores, or in areas humans keep farm animals, Cougars may become dangerous in their search for prey and go after pets and livestock.

…but Attacks are Rare

It is extremely rare for Cougars to attack humans.
In Washington State, there have only been two fatal Cougar attacks: one in 1924, and the other in 2018. State authorities have only recorded 19 other interactions between Cougars and humans that led to documented injuries since 1924. As far as we know, this number includes two fairly recent incidents when Cougars have attacked children: one in Leavenworth in 2019 (2) and one in Fruitland (rural Northeast Washington near Fort Spokane) in 2022 (3).

While these attacks are understandably unnerving, it is important to remember that they are rare. Cougars generally want as little to do with you as possible. That being said, if you are in an area where Cougars may be present, it is reasonable and recommended that you take steps to prevent conflicts with Cougars so that any encounter you have with them will not a recipe for disaster.

Preventing Conflict with Cougars on your Property

To prevent Cougars from becoming a problem on your property, we recommend making your home uninviting to Cougars. There are several steps you can take to help you do this.

1. Choose plants that deer don’t want to eat (1). Remember that a Cougar’s favorite meal is deer. By discouraging deer from hanging around your home for too long, you’re also discouraging Cougars from stopping by. Here in Ocean Shores, where deer are a constant presence, this may be easier said than done. However, like Cougars, deer are usually looking for their next meal, and generally won’t waste too much time at a place where suitable food isn’t available.
2. While costly and not completely effective, chain-link or heaven woven wire fences can keep Cougars out of enclosed areas. WDFW recommends fences that are 10 feet tall with 3-foot extensions on each post (1). Barbed wire or electric wires can serve as an additional deterrent to Cougars (1). You will need to check with your city or county before installing such a fence, as permits will likely be required. Furthermore, some jurisdictions may not allow these types of fences and/or especially tall fences. Here in Ocean Shores, city regulations here do not allow fences to be taller than 6.4 feet. While this limit is shorter than WDFW’s recommendation, a fence of any height is better than no fence at all.
3. Don’t put garbage and recycling bins out the night before. Instead, put them out in the morning before pickup. Depending on your schedule and the time of year, you may have to put them out before dawn. The objective here is to reduce the amount of time that small mammals, such as racoons, have to get into your rubbish. The less time they have to turn your garbage into a meal, the less time Cougars have to come around in search of the small mammals. Even putting your bins out at 6:00am the morning before pickup instead of 8:00pm the night before can help a lot.
4. Use garbage and recycling bins with tight fitting lids, or, if available, order locking bins from your local rubbish collection provider. Tight fitting lids and locks will help keep small mammals out of your rubbish bins and encourage them to move along, thereby ensuring that any Cougars that are following the small mammals also keep moving. Lemay, which provides the rubbish collection service here in Ocean Shores, offers locking bins for $2.50 more a month per bin to residents within city limits.
5. Light all of your walkways after dark (1). Lighting reduces the chance for Cougars to remain secretive.
6. Don’t feed wildlife and feral cats. In Ocean Shores, it is illegal to feed most wildlife (4).
7. Close off any open spaces under structures. Areas beneath decks and porches can provide shelter for prey (1), which may attract Cougars.
8. Feed cats and dogs indoors where possible. If you must feed pets outside, try to do so in the morning or midday hours. Pick up food bowls, water bowls, leftovers, and spilled food well before dark (1). Pet food and water can attract small mammals, which, in turn, may bring Cougars to your yard.
9. Don’t allow pets to be unsupervised outside, especially at night. Cougars have been known to attack pets, and these attacks generally happen at night.
10. Outdoor livestock should be kept in secure pens and away from forest boundaries (1).
11. If you have a large property with outdoor livestock, you may want to consider using a guard animal. Specialty breeds of dogs can defend livestock. Purchase a guard animal from a reputable breeder who knows the animal he or she is selling. Some breeders offer an assortment of guarantees on their guard animals, including a replacement should an animal fail to perform as expected (1).

Next Time

In our fourth and final installment, we will share some important safety tips to help you survive an encounter with a Cougar, as well as advice on how to keep your children safe from Cougars. See you then!

References

1. https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/puma-concolor#conflict
2. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/jun/02/cougar-attacks-child-near-leavenworth-boys-dogs-dr/
3. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/jun/05/cougar-attack-on-9-year-old-reignites-long-simmeri/#:~:text=There%20have%20been%20two%20fatal,by%20a%20cougar%20in%20Leavenworth
4. https://www.northcoastnews.com/news/council-approves-ban-on-deer-wildlife-feeding/

© Ian D. Caldwell, April 2023