Cougar Safety in Canada – Rare, Silent, Serious

Cougars, also known as mountain lions or pumas, are Canada’s most elusive predators. Attacks are rare—but when they happen, they’re often sudden, silent, and serious. Knowing how to behave if you encounter a cougar can save a life—yours, your child’s, or your dog’s.

Cougars are the most elusive—and arguably most feared—cats in North America. And rightly so. With stealth, speed, and sheer power, they are one of the few animals in the world that hunt with such calculated precision.

The species found in Canada is Felis concolor, known as the mountain lion or puma. On Vancouver Island, they belong to a unique subspecies: Felis concolor vancouverensis. While British Columbia is home to around 4,000 cougars, an estimated 600–800 live on Vancouver Island alone—the highest concentration of mountain lions in North America. The densest populations are found on the island’s northeast, where blacktail deer—their preferred prey—are also most common.

Like their prey, cougars prefer mountainous, forested terrain where they can stay hidden and hunt by ambush. Their reddish-brown coat on the island is slightly darker than that of their mainland cousins, helping them blend in even more with the dense coastal landscape.

Cougars are built for bursts of force. They have the largest hind legs (proportionally) of any cat species, allowing them to leap 6 to 12 metres (20–40 feet) in a single bound and reach speeds of up to 70 km/h (45 mph)—though only for short distances. They are excellent climbers and can scale rocky cliffs or leap into trees in seconds.

Despite their size, they are nearly silent. Most cougar attacks occur because people—especially children or pets—don’t see or hear the animal until it’s too close.

Female cougars are especially protective of their young and have even been observed fending off grizzly bears on the mainland. While they rarely seek conflict with humans, if a cougar decides to target something, it’s usually already too close.

Unlike bears or moose, cougars are predators. They hunt by stealth, often stalking before they strike. They’re fast, quiet, and incredibly strong—able to leap over 6 metres from a standstill and drag prey twice their size.

Most people will never see one in the wild. But when encounters do happen, it’s often because the cougar is:

• Stalking prey (including pets or unattended children)
• Defending a kill
• Hungry or ill
• Curious—or, in rare cases, predatory

Cougar sightings are most common on the west coast of Vancouver Island, in remote logging areas, and along trails and campsites in the Fraser Canyon – a hotspot for reported incidents, including attacks on dogs and children.

• Dusk, dawn, and night – cougars are crepuscular
• Near rocky outcrops, dense brush, and canyon walls – where they can observe without being seen
• When hiking alone or with off-leash pets – cougars look for isolated or distracted targets
• Where deer are abundant – cougars follow prey patterns

They’re more active in the spring and fall, but can be seen year-round.

• Keep children close – never let them run ahead or lag behind
• Keep dogs leashed – off-leash pets may provoke an attack or lead a cougar back to you
• Avoid hiking alone, especially in high-risk areas
• Make noise on the trail, especially in brushy or steep terrain
• Don’t wear headphones – you may not hear movement behind you
• Be alert around carcasses or strong animal smells – a cougar may be guarding a kill

• Stop and face the cougar – never turn your back
• Pick up children immediately
• Make yourself look big – raise your arms, stand tall
• Speak loudly and firmly – show the cougar you’re not prey
• Back away slowly, never run

If the cougar appears interested or starts to approach:

• Maintain eye contact
• Shout and throw objects
• Wave a stick or backpack overhead

If the cougar attacks:

• Fight back with everything you have – sticks, rocks, trekking poles
• Do not play dead
• Aim for the eyes and face
• Don’t give up – people have successfully fought off cougars by resisting

• Never leave children unattended on trails, beaches, or campsites
• Don’t let dogs roam, especially near forest edges or ravines
• Teach children not to run from wildlife

If you’re in cougar country and see signs (tracks, scat, sightings), consider an alternate route or go with a larger group

While cougar attacks are extremely rare, British Columbia has recorded several serious cases. In past incidents, dogs have been killed and children injured.

• Cougar attacks mountain biker on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast
• Vancouver Island hiker and dog recover after cougar attack

By understanding cougar behaviour and taking precautions, you help protect both people and wildlife.

This visual guide shows how far to stay from wildlife in Canada’s national parks. For bears, wolves, and cougars: at least 100 metres. For elk, moose, and sheep: at least 30 metres. Always. © Parks Canada