Historic Timeline of Reported Cougar Attacks/Incidents

• 1890, June. A 7-year-old boy killed by a mountain lion (cougar) in Siskiyou County, California.
• 1909, July. A rabid mountain lion (cougar) injured a woman and child in Santa Clara County, California. Both died of rabies.
• 1986, March. A mountain lion (cougar) attacked a 5-year-old girl, in Caspers Regional Park, Orange County, California.
• 1986, October. A 6-year-old boy receives minor injuries from a mountain lion (cougar) attack.
• 1988, June. Two mountain lions (cougars) chase three people in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, California. The Game Warden found and shot both mountain lions.
• 1992, March. Mountain lion attack on a 9-year-old boy in Gaviota State Park, Santa Barbara County, California. 1993, August. A 6-year-old boy was attacked by a mountain lion (cougar) in Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara County, California.
• 1993, September. Young mountain lion bites a 10-year-old girl camping in Paso Picacho Campground in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, California.
• 1994, January. Three bicyclists disturbed by a mountain lion (cougar) in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, California.
• 1994, April. Woman killed by a mountain lion (cougar) in the Auburn State Recreation Area, California. 1994, May. A couple with a little boy approached by a mountain lion (cougar) in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, California.
• 1994, August. Campers in Mendocino County, California, witness a fight between their dog and a rabid female mountain lion. The cougar attacked a female camper, it was jumped and stabbed by the other campers.
• 1994, December. Female killed by mountain lion (cougar) in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, California.
• 1995 January. Teenager charged by a mountain lion (cougar) on Volcan Mountain, San Diego County, California. 1995, March. Cyclist injured by a mountain lion (cougar) near Mount Lowe in the Angeles National Forest, California.
• 1996, January. Woman on horseback approached by a mountain lion (cougar) in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, California.
• 1997, December. Mountain lion (cougar) charges a group of women and children at Caspers Regional Park in Orange County, California.
• 1998 August. Woman encounters a mountain lion (cougar) in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, California.
• 1999. No reported attacks.
• 2000. No reported attacks.
• 2001. No reported attacks.
• 2002, November. Man reports he was attacked by a mountain lion (cougar) in the Diablo Range foothills of Stanislaus County, California.
• 2003. Stalking mountain lion (cougar) killed near San Juan Capistrano, California.
• 2004, January. Man killed by a mountain lion (cougar) in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in southern Orange County, California. Later the same day a woman is jumped and seriously injured by a mountain lion. It is speculated that it was the same mountain lion. Theories vary as to motivation for the attack.

Mountain Lion Status As Game Animal

• 1907-1963: Mountain lion is a bountied predator. (Records cover when and where cougars were taken during that period.)
• 1963-1969: Mountain lion is considered a non-game animal.
• 1969-1972: Mountain lion is designated as a game animal.
• 1972: Laws end recreational mountain lion hunting. Depredation permits are issued for lions that kill, injure or threaten livestock and pets.

Cougar Incidents

• From 1986-July 1995 there were 10 verified mountain lion attacks on humans in California. (Prior to 1986 there was very little concern for public safety threats from lions.)
• The Los Angeles Times reported 1/10/04 that there were 19 attacks since 1986 for a total of 21 in California in the timespan of 1890-2004.
• Doug Updike, a biologist with the state Fish and Game Department, said there have been 13 confirmed mountain lion attacks on humans in California over the past 114 years, five of them fatal.

Offsite Links Related to Cougar Attacks

Mountain Lion Attacks 1890-1990
Cougar attacks in the United States & Canada (Analysis)
National Park Service Mountain Lion Information
Department of Fish & Game Mountain Lion Information