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Safety Guidelines: Living

Learn best practices around the home for living safely in mountain lion country.

From supervising children to landscaping wisely, there are a number of steps you can take to live safely in cougar country. istockphoto.com

While statistics reinforce how unlikely mountain lion attacks are, we recognize that some people live or recreate in habitat where encounters may be more likely. Fears can be eased with a better understanding of these environments.

Learn more about Understanding Cougar Behavior and follow the guidelines, below.

Or download this fact sheet:

CougarFacts PDF - 445.8KB PDF of Cougar Facts

The following are some suggested tips for recreating in cougar country, and numbers to call if an encounter is a serious public safety concern.

Guidelines For Living In Cougar Country:

• Be aware of your surroundings. Contact your state game agency and learn about the wildlife in your area. Know who to call if you see a cougar. Talk to your neighbors.
• Install outside lighting. Movement activated lights placed where you walk are particularly helpful.
• Supervise children, especially during dawn and dusk. Educate them about wildlife and how to behave if they encounter a cougar. Do they know who to call if they see a cougar?
• Landscape wisely. Do not feed wildlife. Deer-proof your yard, using netting or maintaining a garden that does not attract deer or other prey. Prune dense vegetation which cougars may use for cover. Remember, if you live in or near cougar country, where there are deer, there could be a cougar. In some places, bird seed will attract animals that cougars may prey upon.
• Keep pets secure. Roaming pets are easy prey. Do not leave their food outside as it may attract racoons. Again, cougars follow prey. Store all garbage securely.
• Protect, fence and shelter livestock. Place in enclosed sheds or barns at night.