Cougar Country

WASHINGTON STATE - The story of Colorado jogger Travis Kauffman, who managed to win out in a bare-hands battle against a mountain lion earlier this month, has taken the media by storm.

Cougars don't typically attack humans and some accounts surmise that this may have been a starving, young mountain lion that had become separated from its mother. Regardless, Kauffman's self-defense response was impressive.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) website states that there have been 125 reports of cougar attacks on humans in North America in the past 100 years. However, more attacks have documented in the western United States and Canada over the past 25 years than in the previous 75, according to the website.

Cougar sightings are relatively common in the Touchet Valley and while it is highly unlikely that a cougar would attack a human, experts recommend following Kaufman's example and fighting back if faced with an aggressive cat.

The WDFW offers the following tips for those recreating in cougar habitat:

Hike in small groups and make enough noise to avoid surprising a cougar.

Keep your camp clean and store food and garbage in double plastic bags.

Keep small children close to the group, preferably in plain sight just ahead of you.

Do not approach dead animals, especially deer or elk; they could have been cougar prey left for a later meal.

In case of a cougar encounter:

Stop, stand tall and don't run. Pick up small children. Don't run. A cougar's instinct is to chase.

Do not approach the animal, especially if it is near a kill or with kittens.

Try to appear larger than the cougar. Never take your eyes off the animal or turn your back. Do not crouch down or try to hide.

If the animal displays aggressive behavior, shout, wave your arms and throw rocks. The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger.

If the cougar attacks, fight back aggressively and try to stay on your feet. Cougars have been driven away by people who have fought back.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife responds to cougar and bear sightings when there is a threat to public safety or property. If it is an emergency, dial 911.