MICHIGAN CITIZENS for COUGAR RECOGNITION
Cougar Safety Issues


Cougars rarely attack people; in fact, you have a better chance of being hit by lightning than attacked by cougars. In the rare event of attacks, most aggressive cougars are either ill or young just learning to survive. Children are more vulnerable than adults and unaccompanied children are at the greatest risk. According to a study of attacks from 1890-1986, all human deaths by cougars were to unaccompanied children. Because cougars stalk and pounce upon their prey, they often will hunt steep slopes using the weight of gravity to add force to their intial impact - be careful climbing in steep terrain.


There have been two recorded incidences of cougars stalking pedestrians in Michigan - Sleeping Bear Dunes and Delta County. Both appear to be what experts call "curiosity stalks" instead of the person being stalked as prey.

Sleeping Bear Dunes Stalk

Delta County Stalk



It appears that aggressive response by humans may impede or repel an attack. In a study, people who fought back with bare hands, a stick, a knife, a jacket, or a rock were usually successful in repelling the attack. Northern University Cougar Attack Study


COUGAR HABITATS


COUGAR RECOGNITION


MINIMIZING LIVESTOCK LOSSES


DID A PREDATOR KILL MY LIVESTOCK?


SAFETY
Michigan Wildlife Conservancy
Mountain Lion Foundation


DENISE NOBLE