List of fatal cougar attacks in North America

This is a list of known or suspected fatal cougar attacks that occurred in North America by decade in chronological order. The cougar is also commonly known as mountain lion, puma, mountain cat, catamount, or panther. The sub-population in Florida is known as the Florida panther. Over 130 attacks have been reported in North America in the past 100 years, with 29 attacks resulting in fatalities. Fatal cougar attacks are extremely rare and occur much less frequently than fatal snake bites, fatal lightning strikes, or fatal bee stings. Whereas adult humans are not usually viewed as prey by cougars, young children can be considerably more vulnerable. The majority of the child victims listed here were not accompanied by adults. As of 1991, Beier documented only 9 fatal attacks (and 44 nonfatal attacks) resulting in 10 human deaths since 1890. Those not confirmed by Beier are indicated by a question mark (?). Some of the sources, particularly older ones and local newspapers, might not be reliable. Up to 1990, the fatal attacks on Vancouver Island which are listed in this article agree with Beier's study. Fatal attacks in the US might be over-reported. For example, a case of "apparently killed and eaten" assumes killed by a cougar, yet could have been another animal. Another possibility is that a body was scavenged by various animals after an accidental death. Twenty (38%) of the fifty-three attacks (total) between 1890 and 1990 occurred on Vancouver Island (British Columbia). There were 10 attacks in mainland British Columbia, 5 in Texas, 4 in California, 3 each in Alberta and Colorado, 2 each in Arizona, Montana, and Washington, and 1 each in New Mexico and Nevada. (These figures include non-fatal attacks.) As with many predators, a cougar may attack if cornered, if a fleeing human stimulates their instinct to chase, or if a person "plays dead". Standing still may cause the cougar to consider a person easy prey. Exaggerating the threat to the animal through intense eye contact, loud shouting, and any other action to appear larger and more menacing may make the animal retreat. Humans are capable of fending off cougars, as adult humans are generally larger. It is even possible for humans to win a fight against a cougar, such as the case of Travis Kauffman, who strangled a starving juvenile cougar to death when attacked while jogging. Fighting back with sticks and rocks, or even bare hands is often effective in persuading an attacking cougar to disengage, though one should be careful when bending down as it makes you look smaller which could encourage the cougar to attack. A person should walk away backwards when confronted by a cougar rather than turning your back on it and a person should avoid getting near a mother cougar's kittens. ? = cases not confirmed by Beier