Nation Geographic Cougar attack on humans report

[bajadan2000]

National Geographic "Cougar Island" report

Friday night, National Geographic aired a one hour special on the problems Vancouver Island is having with cougar attacks on humans. Vancouver Island has more cougar attacks on humans than anywhere else in the world, 40% of all cougar attacks in Canada and the USA. So VI gives the experts and researchers an ideal setting to study cougar attacks. I found the show to be fair. The research is at the high level we have come to expect from National Geographic. What I was not prepared for was some the findings.

Why do cougars attack humans?

I was always of the belief that lack of territory and too many cougars was the main problem. However that is not the case. 5 years ago VI had between 700-800 cougars. Today VI has between 300-400 cougars yet cougar attacks on human has increased. So this begs the question, why are cougars now attacking people??

Short answer, lack of small prey and a drastic reduction in logging... yes logging... when the timber industry cut way back on the amount of acreage logged, this created a situation where our forest are becoming too old to maintain deer herd populations. With declining deer herds to feed on, the cougars begin to die off due to starvation, however, before dieing, many resort to eating whatever they can. It only takes about 20 years for a forest to mature to where it will become like a desert and not have the habitat to feed small and large game.


Profile of cougars that humans?

Short answer, 1-2 year old cougars. Between the ages of 1 & 2, juvenile cougars are forced to go out on their own. They do not have the experience yet to hunt large game and will take easy prey. Larger, more mature cougars control the better feeding areas and run the smaller cougars out. Larger cougars also have more success at hunting large game.


What triggers cougars attacks on humans?

1) Size of prey will trigger cougar attacks. Over 2/3 of all attacks on humans by cougars are on children. Also, human pets, (dogs & cats) are a major food source for 1-2 year cougars..

2) Running and bike riding will trigger cougar attacks. Fast movement triggers a chase response.

Cougars will not attack humans if they have an adequate food source..


Other cougar facts.

A cougar can leap straight up in the air 15' and cover 45' in a single bound. Est. top running speed is 30-50 mph. Can snap the neck of a 800# elk. Most attacks occur by jumping down onto the victim or from behind and attacking the neck and head area.

[BlacktailBowhunter]

Thank You

[Bill Monroe]

Interesting conundrum...Maintain healthy elk and deer herds in order to keep cougars well fed...could go either way...hunters help keep the herds healthy, therefore anti hunters should support hunting...more likely would go the other way...stop hunting and leave the deer and elk to the cougars...which then would result in lack of financial support for maintaining deer and elk herds...

They want us out there.
They need us out there.

[bajadan2000]

Originally Posted by Bill Monroe

Interesting conundrum...Maintain healthy elk and deer herds in order to keep cougars well fed...could go either way...hunters help keep the herds healthy, therefore anti hunters should support hunting...more likely would go the other way...stop hunting and leave the deer and elk to the cougars...which then would result in lack of financial support for maintaining deer and elk herds...

They want us out there.
They need us out there.

I agree Bill, interesting conundrum... and a very complex set of delicate issues... The same reasons cougars are a problem on Vancouver Island are starting to develop here on the west coast.. Makes me wonder what really is in our future???

What I found interesting about the report is since VI is in fact an island, the argument that the cougar's food source (small and large game) move somewhere else is not valid. Not possible to inject new spieces into the cougars territory or for critter's present to escape.

[skein]

I found it strange that they didn't mention the HUGE concentration of black bears on the island competing for the same food source as the big cats. I can tell you they definitely have an impact.

They also didn't mention the attack on the whale-watchers at Telegraph Cove, about 50 miles from the Port Alice attacks. A group of folks were hiking out to a point overlooking Johnstone Strait and the front bunch had gotten ahead while the rear group had fallen behind, leaving one woman by herself. She got jumped and was saved by both groups coming to her rescue.

There's actually lots of incidences like that one, some culminating in attacks and some just close calls. Trust me, it's a spooky place to hike around.

Skein

[TheTexan]

What is the cougar population density on VI? Are their territories smaller on VI than in other areas? Is it similar here in Oregon or other states? Does anyone know if the show will repeat?

Thanks for posting this information, I now have another excuse not to go jogging!

[skein]

I taped it, so if you didn't get to see it I can send you the tape. I have to say it was pretty melodramatic, and there were times when I could almost substitute "UFO" or "Sasquatch" for "cougar." I was actually kind of disappointed in Nat Geo's reporting. There was some incredible footage though.

Did anyone happen to catch a cougar show on the Documentary channel a few weeks ago? I learned a lot by watching it, but didn't get it taped.

Skein

[sliverpicker]

The show is being played on Nat Geo Channel right now. Dishnet Ch 186

[TheTexan]

Thanks Sliver I am recording it to watch later.

[Rank Amateur]

Originally Posted by TheTexan

What is the cougar population density on VI? Are their territories smaller on VI than in other areas? Is it similar here in Oregon or other states? Does anyone know if the show will repeat?

Thanks for posting this information, I now have another excuse not to go jogging!

??? Did I do my math wrong? According to google, VI has a area of 12,076 square miles, divided by the current estimate of 400 cougars, equals, 30.2 square miles per cougar.

Oregon has 98,386 square miles of area, current estimate of cougars 5,500, equals 17.8 square miles per cougar. We have higher densities than VI. Ok, does this make sense?

[Hawk]

Originally Posted by Rank Amateur

??? Did I do my math wrong? According to google, VI has a area of 12,076 square miles, divided by the current estimate of 400 cougars, equals, 30.2 square miles per cougar.

Oregon has 98,386 square miles of area, current estimate of cougars 5,500, equals 17.8 square miles per cougar. We have higher densities than VI. Ok, does this make sense?

No, I think it makes perfect sense. We're a tragedy waiting to happen. It's only a matter of time.

[Pagorits]

They're here. I heard about a cougar in the middle of Woodland a couple of years ago. Just out for its daily stroll, looking for a chihuahua.
My sister lived on Bald Peak and small dogs were missing all the time.
But then I know of a woman in Morton whose dog was taken by an eagle.
Danger on the ground, danger in the sky. It doesn't pay to be small.

[RiverRogue]

According to NG web site, it aires again on Friday Feb 2nd., 6 pm.