Cougars are large animals, often over 100 pounds, and they are potentially dangerous, especially to children. To prevent an encounter:

·         Keep pets indoors or in secure kennels at night.

·         Don’t keep pet food or scraps outside.

·         Store garbage in cans with tight fitting lids.

·         Light walkways and remove heavy vegetation from close to your house.

Most cougars will retreat. If the cougar becomes aggressive, shout, wave your arms and throw things at the animal. Stay on your feet. Don’t turn your back or take your eyes off the cougar. Try to convince the animal that you are a danger to it.

For additional information, visit the Washington State Dep’t of Fish and Wildlife website.

If you encounter a cougar:

Stop, stand tall and don’t run. Pick up small children immediately. Running and rapid movements may trigger an attack. Remember, a cougar’s instinct is to chase.

Face the cougar, talk to it firmly and slowly back away. Always leave the animal an escape route.

Try to appear larger than the cougar by getting above it. (e.g., stepping up onto a stump). If wearing a jacket, hold it open to further increase your size.

Do not take your eyes off the animal or turn your back. Do not crouch down or try to hide.

Never approach the animal, especially if it is near a kill or with kittens. Never corner the animal or offer it food.

If the animal does not flee and shows signs of aggression (crouches with ears back, teeth bared, hissing, tail twitching, and hind feet pumping in preparation to jump), be more assertive. Shout, wave your arms and throw rocks. The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger.

If the cougar attacks, fight back aggressively and try to stay on your feet. Cougars have been driven away by people who have fought back using anything within reach, including sticks, rocks, shovels, backpacks, and clothing — even your bare hands. Generally, if you are aggressive enough, a cougar will flee, realizing it has made a mistake.

Black bears are solitary animals and most active at dawn and dusk. Their keen sense of smell and innate curiosity make them skilled scavengers. They are notorious for rummaging through garbage cans and snatching pet food from porches.

If you live in or near wooded black bear habitat you can reduce the potential for a black bear conflict by taking these precautions:

·         Don’t leave food out that bears can get into. Keep pet foods indoors.

·         Remove bird seed from bird feeders, at least until summer berries are plentiful, and the bear goes elsewhere for food.

·         Store garbage in cans with tight-fitting lids and store cans in your garage or a shed until pick-up day.

·         Wash barbecue grills immediately after use, and keep any fish parts and meat waste in your freezer until they can be disposed of properly.

If you encounter a bear:

Stay calm and avoid direct eye contact, which could elicit a charge. Because bears are nearsighted, if one has not caught your scent, it could mistake you for prey. Try to stay upwind and identify yourself as a human by standing up, waving your hands above your head, and talking. The bear will probably leave you alone.

Do not approach the bear, especially if cubs are around. Give the bear plenty of room and slowly back away. Leave the bear an escape route at all times.

If you cannot safely move away from the bear and the bear doesn’t flee, then try to scare it away by aggressively clapping your hands, or yelling. Black bears can climb trees, fleeing up a tree is not a safe option.

In the unlikely event a black bear attacks you (meaning he thinks you are prey), fight back aggressively using your bare hands or any object you can reach. As a last resort, should the attack continue, protect yourself by curling into a ball or lying flat on the ground on your stomach and playing dead. Do not look up or move until you are certain the bear is gone.