My Encounters with Cougars

Cougar: Ecology and Conservation

A great resource for those who are fascinated by these mysterious animals,this book is based on years of research on the cougar in North America. The book is a collaboration of many researchers and takes a comprehensive look at the cougar's history as well as future prospects. Taken from an unbiased perspective, the authors consider the viewpoints of both ranchers and conservationists.

Highly praised by reviewers.

Cougars are sighted in our local area on a regular basis. They are usually hunting the deer that are prolific.

Kaslo, British Columbia, is located on Kootenay Lake, which stretches between two mountain ranges west of the Rockies -- the Selkirks and the Purcells. Cougars often wander down from the wild mountain country, much of which is preserved and uninhabited by people. It is not a rare event to hear of cougar sightings just outside of town. This morning, for instance, a friend reported seeing a young cougar perched in a tree on D Street.

I have yet to see one myself here in B.C., though I've seen bobcats and bears.

Walking outdoors, especially at night, requires a flashlight and some pepper -- or bear -- spray. Very few people ever really need to use it, but carrying it along makes you feel safer, and it can be used as a last resort if you get into trouble in a wild animal encounter. 

In general, however, cougars and bears will avoid human contact and will back off in most instances. They don't want to get too close to you either. However, there have been reports of unfortunate wild animal encounters, usually caused by people being unaware or doing unwise things. That is why a few basic rules should be followed when you are out-of-doors in an area where cougars are known to roam.

Cougars (Our Wild World)

Beautifully illustrated with the photos of wildlife photographer John F. McGee, Patricia Corrigan's book about cougars is 48 pages of facts and lore written for children aged 7 and up.

Although cougars are shy and do not usually hunt humans, they are curious creatures and will sometimes be attracted to movement. Think of your house cat and how he or she behaves and then transfer those impulses to a larger scale.

A man I know told me a story of when he was about 8 years old. He was returning home from a friend's birthday party and walking through the woods along a trail that separated his home from the home of his friend. Being in the mountains, this trail wound past some cliffs and large boulders. The young boy looked up and saw a cougar perched high above him not that far away.

Luckily, he had been taught by his mother how to behave in case he ever saw a cougar in the wild. Although his heart was racing, he did not run. He picked up a stick and lifted it above his head, making himself look larger than he actually was. Then he slowly eased away, continuing in a homeward direction. He was unsure whether the cougar continued to stalk him, but home was never such a welcome sight to him as that time when he arrived, out of breath and almost collapsing with fear!

In cougar country, you must always be aware of your surroundings, and if you are alone, running is not a good idea. Carrying a walking stick and some pepper spray can be helpful. If for some reason you are attacked, don't play dead. Fight back with all your might because a cougar will often back off if you fight. It's your best chance of living to tell the tale.

During winter, we sometimes see where a cougar has passed by the scat and the tracks in the snow. Because they have such a large range, seeing tracks doesn't necessarily mean that the animal is still around. 

Once we not only saw a cougar's tracks, but we also saw where a mother and cub had rolled together in a snowy patch. It was like watching a story unfold: first the adult tracks with the smaller cub tracks beside; then the indentation where the two had rolled on the bank. Were they playing? Was the cub being naughty and needing to be disciplined? Or maybe it was snack time and they had paused in their journey to nurse.

These are some of the wonders that can occur when you watch our animal friends and their tracks.