Brandon Smith

In this article we present a synopsis for the recorded attacks on humans and livestock involving both bobcats (Lynx rufus) and mountain lions (Puma concolor). As we found no records of attacks involving lynx (Lynx canadensis), this species is not discussed.

Bobcat Attacks

Figure 1: Attack wounds showing damage from a bobcat claw. (Source: http://www.bigcats.org/abc/photoalbum /joshhopkins.html)

In general, bobcat attacks are not very common. Based upon a number of reports in recent years, it appears that rabid bobcats are responsible for most attacks. Bobcats do not come in contact with humans much due to the fact that they are nocturnal and usually shy away from humans. Therefore, if you encounter a bobcat during the day extra precaution should be taken since there is good chance that the animal could be rabid.

As for domestic livestock, bobcat attacks are generally minor and localized. Bobcats constitute a small portion of all predation on livestock with less than 10% of predation on sheep and goats being done by bobcats (Anderson & Lovallo 2003).

The following are a few suggestions, given by the Arizona Department of Game and Fish, for dealing with or preventing bobcat encounters:

If you find a bobcat in your back yard:
- Make noise to let it know that it is not welcome.
- Spray it with a hose.
- Remove any possible food source, including pets and pet food.
- Do not feed or touch it.
If you run into a bobcat while hiking:
- Keep your child on your shoulders and your pets on a leash.
- Stay calm and do not run.
- Back away from the bobcat slowly.

Attack Articles

Bobcat attacks couple, dogs Tuscan Citizen

New attack by a bobcat in Foothills Tuscan Citizen

Bobcat in Valley attack was rabid The Arizona Republic

Bobcat that attacked 7 had rabies Saratosa Herald Tribune

Sick bobcat attacks Greenfield residents Portsmouth Herald

Bobcat attacks hiker Yahoo News

Mountain Lion Attacks

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Figure 2: 35-year old woman was attacked by a cougar near her home resulting in four lacerations. (Source: The Newkirk Herald Journal, 2002)

The past decade has seen a very significant increase in the number of cougar attacks on people in the U.S. and Canada. There were 11 eleven fatal cougar attacks from 1890 to 1993 and 8 in only the last decade (1994 to present). As the legal status of the cougar changed in many western states from a predator carrying a bounty to that of a species with varying degrees of protection, cougar numbers increased from 1965 to 1980. At the same time, human use of wildlands has grown and caused a rise in the number of encounters (Beier 1991).

In order to more closely examine cougar attacks, data were compiled from the previous decade (1994 to present) to give an indication of when and where most cougar attacks occur and who is at the most risk of being attacked. An incident was only recorded as an attack if there was physical contact between the cougar and victim or if it was clear that the cougar intended the person harm. Due to these criteria, it was found that since 1994 there have been 31 non-fatal attacks and 8 fatal attacks in the U.S. and Canada.

All data was analyzed from a previous compilation by Linda Lewis and Tom Chester (http://users.frii.com/mytymyk/lions/attacks2.htm).

Location

There are a few locations which contain an unusually high number of attacks (Figure 3). There have been five attacks (2 fatal) in Colorado around north central Colorado and 13 attacks (1 fatal) in Washington and British Columbia (especially Vancouver Island). Although most attacks have occurred in the western states or provinces, one fatal attack occurred in the Ozarks in Arkansas and another attack occurred in eastern Ontario. The following picture shows the distribution of cougar attacks in the U.S. and Canada since 1994.

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Figure 3: Distribution of fatal and non-fatal cougar attacks in the U.S. and Canada in the last decade (1994 to present).

Most attacks occurred in remote or rural areas as opposed to urban areas. Most victims were alone rather than with others. Out of all 39 attacks, 28 of the victims were alone and only 11 were with at least one other person (Table 1; Figure 4). However, until data are compiled with the proportion of individuals traveling in different sized groups, it is impossible to determine the strength of selection, or even indeed, if there is selection for a particular group size.

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Figure 4: Locations of Fatal and Non-fatal Cougar Attacks in the Last Decade (1994-2004) with Respect to the Presence of Others.

Table 1: Locations of Fatal and Non-Fatal Cougar Attacks in the Last Decade (1994-2004) with Respect to the Presence of Others.

	Non-Fatal Attacks		Fatal Attacks		All Attacks
	Alone	Others Present	Alone	Others Present	Alone	Others Present
City or Urban Area	2	1	0	0	2	1
Remote or Rural Area	19	9	7	1	26	10

Time

Of the 39 total attacks, only 6 took place at night while the rest occurred during the day (Table 2; Figure 5). The preponderance of daytime attacks was probably due to this being a period when people are most active (hiking, biking, etc.). Similarly, there is a correlation between attacks upon humans and the time of year. There were more attacks (n=28) during the warmer months (April through September) than there were during the colder months (October through March; n=11). Again, this is probably due to increased human activity and outdoor recreation during the summer.

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Figure 5: Time of Day and Month for Cougar Attacks in the Last Decade (1994-2004).

Table 2: Time of Day and Month for Cougar Attacks in the Last Decade (1994-2004).

Month	Day Attacks	Night Attacks	Total
January	4	0	4
February	0	1	1
March	1	0	1
April	3	1	4
May	5	1	6
June	2	0	2
July	6	0	6
August	5	2	7
September	2	1	3
October	2	0	2
November	1	0	1
December	2	0	2

Victim

Children appear to be slightly more at risk than adults; however, cougars attack people of all ages (Table 3; Figure 6). Children are probably at a greater risk of being attacked because they more closely resemble the normal prey size of a cougar. It should be pointed out though, that although children are at a greater risk of attack, the number of fatal attacks is spread fairly evenly across age cohorts.

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Figure 6: Age of Victim Involved in Fatal and Non-Fatal Cougar Attacks in the Last Decade (1994-2004).

Table 3: Age of Victim in Fatal and Non-Fatal Cougar Attacks in the Last Decade (1994-2004).

Age	Non-Fatal Attacks	Fatal Attacks
0-10	12	2
11-20	2	0
21-30	6	1
31-40	2	2
41-50	3	1
51-60	1	1
61-70	2	0
unknown	8	1

Avoiding Attacks

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Figure 8: Damage from a cougar attack on a ranch in Idaho. (Source: http://proliberty.com/observer /20030818.htm)

Despite the recent increase in cougar attacks, there are some things that you can do to reduce your risk of being attacked if an encounter occurs:

Make yourself look as big as possible (Chester 2004).

o Pick up small children and put them on your shoulders.

o Stand erect with your arms up.

Aggressively defend your position (Chester 2004).

o Pick up a rock of branch to help defend yourself.

Do not bring your dog into the wilderness for protection (the dog may actually provoke an attack) (Chester 2004).

Do not run (Chester 2004) prey-like items that move rapidly stimulate the cougar to attack (Fitzhugh & Fjelline 1997).

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife also offers some steps that a person can take to prevent attacks on livestock or pets:

Keep animals inside a closed barn at night.

Use flood lights to illuminate your area cougars are secretive and prefer darkness.

Make noise a radio playing may keep cougars at bay.

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish also has a good site, Co-existing with Cougars, with recommendations for dealing with cougars.

Attack Articles

Cougar Attacks Increasing in West New York Times Online

Cougars attack Eagle Point sheep Mail Tribune, Jackson Co., Oregon

Cougar carnage at the Promised Land Ranch Idaho Observer

Rural Newkirk Woman Victim of Cougar Attack The Newkirk Herald Journal

Bobcat Literature Cited

Anderson, E.M., and M.J. Lovallo. 2003. Bobcat and Lynx. Pages 758-786 in G.A. Feldhamer, B.C. Thompson, and J.A. Chapman, eds. Wild mammals of North America. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.

The Josh Hopkins Attack. http://www.bigcats.org/abc/photoalbum/joshhopkins.html Accessed 12 April 2004.

Mountain Lion Literature Cited

Fitzhugh, E.L. & D.P. Fjelline. 1997. Puma behaviors during encounters with humans and appropriate human responses. pp. 26-28 in W.D. Padley, ed., Proceedings, 5^th mountain lion workshop. 27 February 1 March 1996. San Diego, California. Southern California Chapter, The Wildlife Society.

Chester, T. 2004. Mountain Lion Attacks on People in the U.S. and Canada. <http://tchester.org/sgm/lists/lion_attacks.html> Accessed 12 April 2004.

Beier, P. 1991. Cougar Attacks on Humans in the United States and Canada. Wildlife Society Bulletin 19:403-412.

Lewis, L. 2004. List of Confirmed Cougar Attacks in the United States and Canada 1991-2000. <http://users.frii.com/mytymyk/lions/attacks2.htm> Accessed 12 April 2004.

Lewis, L. 2004. List of Confirmed Cougar Attacks in the United States and Canada 2001-Now. <http://users.frii.com/mytymyk/lions/attacks3.htm> Accessed 12 April 2004.

Kretz, J. 2003. Am I Doing Something Wrong. The Idaho Observer. <http://proliberty.com/observer/20030818.htm> Accessed 12 April 2004.

Freeman, M. 2004. Cougars attack Eagle Point sheep. Mail Tribune, Jackson County, Oregon. <http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2004/0113/local/stories/01local.htm> Accessed 12 April 2004.

White, W. 2002. Rural Newkirk Woman Victim of Cougar Attack. The Newkirk Herald Journal, Newkirk, Oklahoma. <http://www.newkirkherald.com/Newkirk%20Homepage/nhj/NHJSEP02/WEEK4/front.html> Accessed 12 April 2004.

Attack Articles

Location

All Attacks

Attack Articles