Funny, I was just writing about animal attacks this week when I found this story about the cougar that entered a home in Colorado and grabbed a sleeping pet.
Wild animals are getting habituated to humans due to all the encounters and close proximity to people as we continue to encroach and trespass into their limited habitats.
Just a few weeks ago two other cougars were causing problems in Durango–including one cat that attempted to attack a boy driving a mower–the cat missed.
I’ve heard an interview where one of the lion dog guys (guys that track mountain lions with dogs) mentioned that many of the incidents with mountain lions involve younger animals.
Is this true? I need to find that source…but I believe it might be since younger animals leave their mom to go out on their own and then get run out of established territories by dominant animals.
Also, humans provide a lot of resources when they live in close proximity to lion country–like cougar snacks (dog, cats). Many attract wildlife by feeding prey animals near their homes and also supply water–then are surprised when the predators follow.
Is there anything you can do to avoid animal attacks?
First, if you are out in the wilderness, adjacent to it, or hear about a predator in the area–follow the suggestions put out by authorities–and find out if there is risk in the area you are visiting.
It amazes me how many people are surprised to find a bear or other animals in their yard when they feed wildlife, keep pet food and water sources just outside their doors, or place trash outside a day before pickup.
I have a screen door with an iron grid so that I can leave my door open and get air–this has proved valuable when the raccoons and coyotes use my deck. So far I haven’t had any larger visitors.
Also, people need to leave wildlife alone and to be aware that most animals are highly active at dawn or dusk and at night.
A bit of common sense might help to avoid meandering into a predator at times when they are most active.
Now there is always the bad luck factor–being in the wrong place at the wrong time but using common sense and taking precautions helps mitigate that.
Today there was a poor example custom made for this post–a hiker who lacked common sense took liberties by petting a cougar cub and then got attacked by a mad mother lion. Now the protective mother cougar may loose her life over human stupidity–her three cubs may be orphaned.
If she wanted to kill the person–why didn’t she? She wanted the person to leave her cubs alone–also she needs to live to take care of the small critters.
On the opposite side of the spectrum there was the woman who used her common sense and a machete to thwart off a mountain lion attack.
I’ve been talking about animal attacks all week over at Ark Animals but you can find my past comments on how to avoid cougar attacks here.
