An article revealing the statistics behind cougar attacks has just been published in Antrozoos.

The effects of human age, group composition, and behavior on the likelihood of being injured by attacking pumas seems to contradict the standard response to the threat of a cougar attack.

Some of the cougar study statistics were previously revealed in the book, Cougar Attacks (2004) by Kathy Eling.

For instance, some of the statistics revealed from cougar attacks in the book were:

• Percentage of children most likely to be: killed 29% severely injured 56%
• Percentage of adults mostly likely to be: killed 18% severely injured 19%
• Percentage of solitary individuals most likely to be: killed 36% severely injured 55%
• Percentage of group members likely to be: killed 14% severely injured 55%

Ultimately, solitary people were determined to be three times as likely to be attacked or to have an encounter versus people in pairs or larger groups.

Only groups of five or more were found to be less likely to be attacked unless the groups contained children.

Immobility increased the likelihood of death (23%) and severe injury (43%).

The new paper indicated that noise making such as yelling at the cougar is useful.

Is this study definitive?

That is hard to say since each situation is unique and how you deal with a wild animal attack threat would vary with the animal and the situation.

It could be confusing–since the standard advice is to stand your ground.

Prey species that run usually trigger an attack response from a predator but cougars tend to be stealthy and surprise their prey.

The study confirms the fact that hiking in groups is more beneficial from a safety perspective BUT predators will always target the weak and the young even in groups.

More information about cougar attacks can be found in:

Coss, R. G., Fitzhugh, E. L., Schmid-Holmes, S., Kenyon, M. W., & Etling, K. (2009).
The effects of human age, group composition, and behavior on the likelihood of being injured by attacking pumas. Anthrozoös 22, 77-87.

Cougar Attack Tips at Ark Animals

Cougar Attack History & Mountain Lion Attack Statistics at Ark Animals

Another chimp attack was in the news this week. Brent Hudson and his wife, Cherace Hudson along with their friend Mary Overton were each charged with 17 misdemeanor counts of animal abuse and neglect.

The trio was operating as a commercial breeder without a license and were charged with improper disposal of dead animals, and keeping wild animals without proper registration.

If you missed my prior comments on chimp attacks click here and my most recent series on chimpanzee attackshere.

Fox News Video
UPI Chimp Attack News Release

Elok, an eight-year-old orangutan escaped from his enclosure at the Oklahoma City zoo earlier this week. Orangutans are great escape artists and zoo staff members witnessed him crawl into the moat and then out over the moat wall.

Fortunately he was captured within about 15 minutes.

“We do have some electrical hotwire in the exhibit and he went underneath that hotwire so we’re going to have to modify strands of hotwire for sure,” was the quote I saw from Dwight Scott, Executive Director of the Oklahoma City Zoo.

I hope they plan to do more than that!

Elok is currently housed in the indoor portion of the exhibit where he will remain until the modifications are made.

Read more about Elok’s great escape.

This week has been filled with ape news and if you have not seen my commentary on Travis the Chimp read it at ArkAnimals.com