Cougars and public safety Just glimpsing a cougar is not cause for alarm, especially if the cougar leaves the Cougar attacks on people are extremely rare. area. Cougars will often retreat if given the Oregon is There has been one known attack by a wild opportunity so if you do encounter one, give cougar in Oregon, which was fatal. Attacks have it a way to escape. happened in other states and in Canada. COUGAR Do not approach any wildlife; stay at least Cougars are considered public safety risks when 100 yards away. COUNTRY they are seen repeatedly in daylight around areas of human activity, or are attacking pets. If this For more information about living with happens, call your local ODFW office or 911. cougars, visit www.odfw.com

Preventing an encounter with a cougar:

STAY ALERT HIKE IN GROUPS KEEP DOGS DON’T FEED STORE Especially and make noise so ON LEASH WILDLIFE FOOD IN at dusk you don’t surprise Pets running Prey attracts CONTAINERS and dawn a cougar free can bring predators Make sure they a cougar to you. are animal proof

What to do during an encountering with a cougar that does not retreat:

Guidelines for living with Cougars DON’T RUN MAKE NOISE PICK UP RAISE ARMS FIGHT BACK Running triggers Raise your voice CHILDREN If the cougar in the rare event a chase response and speak firmly, Do this seems of an attack. Oregon Department of in cougars, Stop, Yell and clap without aggressive, Keep bear spray Fish and Wildlife stand your ground your hands. bending down raise your arms hand for quick 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE and back away or turning to make access and Salem, Oregon 97302 slowly. Keep eye your back on yourself look practice using 503-947-6000 | ODFW.com contact with the the cougar. larger. it. (works for cougar (avoid eye coyotes too) contact with Be aggressive, a bear). shout, throw tools, sticks Visit ODFW @ MyODFW and rocks.

/myodfw/myodfw /myodfw/myodfw /myodfw/myodfw If you are involved in a face-to-face /myodfw/myodfw /myodfw/myodfw /myodfw/myodfw encounter with a cougar or any animal, /myodfw/myodfw /odfw /ieodfw/ieodfw call the nearest ODFW office, Oregon State /myodfw/myodfw /odfw/odfw /ieodfw/ieodfw Police or the land manager if on public land. 11/2020 Living in Cougar Country Recreating in Cougar Country About cougars

Some common sense guidelines can Cougars will usually sense people and Cougars, also called mountain lions, keep you and your neighborhood safe. leave an area, but by following these are Oregon’s largest cat species. guidelines you can further minimize ▪ Learn your neighborhood. Be aware of any Historically, cougar were one of the wildlife corridors or places where deer or your risk of encountering one. most widely distributed wildlife elk concentrate. ▪ Be aware of your surroundings at all times. species in North America. ▪ Walk pets during the day and ▪ Leave your dog at home—or at least keep Native to Oregon, cougars are found keep them on a leash. it on a leash and under your control ▪ throughout the state. Population Keep pets indoors at dawn and dusk. ▪ Keep children close to you. densities vary depending on habitat with Shelter them for the night. Teach them about wildlife. ▪ the highest densities in northeast Oregon Feed pets indoors. ▪ Keep campsites clean. Sleep 100 and the southwest Cascade Mountains. ▪ Don’t leave food or garbage outside. yards from cooking areas. Use animal-proof garbage cans if necessary. ▪ Steer clear of baby wildlife. As they were in many other western ▪ Remove heavy brush from near the The mother is likely to be nearby. states, cougars were originally house and play areas. ▪ Be alert when sitting quietly or bounty-hunted in Oregon. Until the ▪ Install motion-activated lights stopping to rest. late 1960s, they were classified as outdoors along walkways and driveways. ▪ Be especially alert at dawn and predators and had no protections under ▪ Be more cautious at dawn and dusk dusk when cougars are most active. state law. Only about 200 cougars when cougars are most active. ▪ Be aware that animal calls and were estimated to be left when they ▪ Do not feed any wildlife. By attracting animal kills can attract a cougar were reclassified as game mammals other wildlife you may attract a cougar. ▪ Carry bear spray (which also works for in the late 1960s and came under ▪ Keep areas around bird feeders clean. cougars) and understand how to use it. ODFW management. With regulated ▪ Deer-proof your garden and yard ▪ Report any cougar encounter to hunting, the statewide population with nets, lights and fencing. local ODFW office or 911. rebounded to an estimated 6,600 ▪ Fence and shelter livestock. Move cougars of all age classes as of 2020. them to sheds or barns at night. Cougar tracks versus dog tracks Cougars are carnivores. ▪ Report any cougar sighting or encounter Cougar tracks to a local ODFW office or Oregon State ▪ Tracks do not generally include claw Their primary food sources are Police office. marks because cougars have deer, elk, and bighorn sheep where retractable claws. available. Cougars, especially males, ▪ The heal pad has three are very territorial and will defend ATTENTION LANDOWNERS: lobes at the base and is their territory against other cougars. Oregon law allows landowners to kill indented at the top, forming a cougar that is damaging livestock a distinct “M” shape. or property. If you experience cougar Dog tracks Attention on cougars has increased as damage, call your local ODFW office. ▪ Tracks usually include both the human and cougar populations claw marks. have grown and more people work, play ▪ The heel pads are and live in areas inhabited by these more rounded. big cats. By following the guidelines 3 1/2 in. in this brochure, you can reduce your

chances of a negative encounter.

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DOG COUGAR