On Second Thought



Picture from ODFW



Some of you know - and for some, this might be a surprising little tid bit about me - but one of my biggest fears is encountering a cougar.  (But let's be honest, most of us would be if we ever encountered one... they are, after all, mountain LIONS.)  This fear goes back years, and to be honest, I don't know where it comes from.  I've never seen one - nor known anyone personally who's had incident with one.  Ken is an avid outdoorsman, always will be I think :), but we've recently come to a crossroads of having to face my fear of these creatures when we discovered just how prevalent they are in Oregon.  (our move there is now just weeks away)  Why on earth I ever did some researching into this now, is beyond me.  We vacation there and absolutely love the state --- and are still, super excited about Ken's new job and the move.  But let me just say, what I've come across has given me much pause and caution.  Ok, and maybe a smidge of hyperventilating and then I'm reminded of Scripture and the fact that God desires me to trust in Him, and be courageous and not fear.  I've prayed about this and been thinking of it extensively this past week.  According to the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, cougars are a growing concern.  Why?  Oh, let's just say there are reported to be over 5,700 of them in the state.  Did you catch that?  FIVE THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED... plus!  We have, an estimated 200 or so in the entire state of WA.  We know they're here, but holy tamole, we had no idea there were that many there.

So on second thought, country living in cougar country, when we have 3 small children, does not hold the same appeal.  Not even close.  Ken & I have talked about this concern extensively.  At first, it was more me being quite adamant that we withdraw and find a home to rent somewhere closer in town.  Then we thought of ways we could make the country house work if we were to take more precautions:  add motion lights all around the property, buy a gun (and learn how to shoot it), add a big dog to our family that would be good with kids & maybe help deter a cougar who could prowl near the home.... but after Ken started reading up on it too, he agreed that it's just not worth it.  Suburbia, here we come! :) hahaha.  The irony is that the "other" house we had really liked when we went down to look for a home a few weeks ago, is situated in a suburban area right next to a 500 acre wildlife safari that is home to rhinos, cheetahs, elephants, and giraffes to name a handful.  Imagine if any of those got out.  Eeesh.  I'm super easy to be around right now, just ask Ken. ;)

Here's an excerpt from an Oregon newspaper article, talking about cougars.  And at the end - for those who might wonder - are tips on what to do if you ever encounter one... good to know, especially if you have small kids and like to spend time outdoors in parts of the country where they live.

Cougars are solitary and highly territorial animals. Although adult males, which may command more than 100 square miles, will tolerate females within their territories, any male intruder will be hunted down and killed. As kittens approach two years old and are evicted from their mother's care, they must find space of their own. When cougar numbers are high, traditional backcountry areas are full and immature cats must learn to live around people if they are to survive. All across the state, cougars are denning, raising young and occasionally living for years within city limits. Although some cats are remarkably adept at staying under the radar, others are attracted to livestock, family dogs and children.



Historically, cougars in Oregon were poisoned, trapped and shot on sight. In 1967 the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) assumed management control and imposed strict protective measures. At that point, biologists estimated there were fewer than 100 animals left in the state. As the numbers increased, ODFW expanded hunting opportunities, and by 1994 there were approximately 3,200 cougars in Oregon. Until then, almost all cougars were taken by hunters using dogs to track and tree them. Since the prohibition on use of dogs, cougar numbers have increased to approximately 5,700 animals.

But ODFW has this checklist of what to do should you ever meet up with one.



• Leave the animal a way to escape. Cougars often will retreat if given the opportunity.


• Stay calm and stand your ground.


• Maintain direct eye contact.


• Pick up children, but do so without bending down or turning your back on the cougar.


• Back away slowly.


• Do not run. Running triggers a chase response in cougars, which could lead to an attack.

• Raise your voice and speak firmly.

• If the cougar seems aggressive, raise your arms to make yourself look larger and clap your hands.


• In the very unusual event that a cougar attacks you, fight back with rocks, sticks, tools or any items available.

Happy trails.  I think we're looking forward to more time at the beach/ocean than perhaps on hikes... for now... until we get more used to living there amidst my most feared animal.