Be Prepared If Confronted By Cougar

Thu., Sept. 24, 1998

Cougar numbers seem to be increasing throughout the West, especially in Washington and Idaho. As a result, people are seeing more of them when they’re in cougar country.

If you should encounter a cougar while hunting or just hiking, the Idaho Fish and Game Department has these recommendations:

Move slowly. Running may cause the cougar to think of you as prey. You can’t outrun a cougar.

Don’t make the confrontation a contest. The animal’s instinct is to flee or fight. It prefers to flee, so allow it to run away.

Appear as large as possible. If you’re sitting, stand up slowly. Raise your arms above your head. If you are wearing a jacket, remove it and hold it above your head. A large size may intimidate the animal.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.