QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE: WILDLIFE SAFETY (WOLVES/COUGARS)

By Christopher Fragassi-Bjrnsen, CWIT

We share the Canadian wilderness with various wildlife, including wolves and cougars. While wolf sightings occur occasionally,
cougar sightings are quite rare. Preventing wildlife conflicts is nonetheless an integral part of exploring the backcountry and preserving the wilderness.
While cougar attacks are very rare in Canada, wolf attacks are even more infrequent. For your protection and that of the
animals, It is however recommended that you apply the following guidelines.

AVOIDING WOLF CONFLICTS

AVOIDING COUGAR CONFLICTS

Wolf attacks on humans in North America are extremely rare, and they typically involve rabid,
hybrid, or tame animals. Preventing interactions with wolves is nonetheless important.

Cougar attacks are rare in North America, with an average of one fatality every 10 years.
Preventing interactions with cougars and reacting appropriately to a conflict may however
save your life

Avoid bringing dogs. If you bring dogs, always keep them on leash.
Do not let children unattended and away from the group.
Stay with your group.
Do not store any food, cosmetics or garbage with you in your tent.
Avoid the use of smelly foods. Freeze-dried foods are best.
Cook all foods besides freeze-dried foods at least 100 meters from your tent.
Do not burry food leftovers or garbage, and dispose of gray water away from camp.
Never approach a wolf.
Never feed a wolf.

Make a lot of noise to alert cougars of your presence.

Avoid hiking with small dogs, especially off-leash.
Do not leave small dogs unattended.
Make sure children are supervised at all times and are between, or close to, adults.
Do not leave children unattended.
Stay with your group.
Never corner a cougar, and allow the animal the option to leave the area.
Never approach a cougar.

IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF A CONFLICT

IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF AN ATTACK

If a wolf approaches you, or appears to be aggressive, you should take the following actions, keeping in
mind that no encounter and no wolves are alike, and that a given strategy is never guaranteed to work in
all circumstances.

Cougars attack at extremely fast speeds, and usually in about three bounds. The attack on
prey is typically aimed at the throat or neck, and death occurs either by suffocation or broken
neck, depending on the size of the prey.

Do not run. You will only reassure the cougar that you are prey, and you can not outrun a
cougar.

Do not run.
Back away slowly. Do not turn your back to the animal.
Stay with your group.
Raise your arms in order to appear bigger.

If the behavior of the animal(s) does not change:

Show your teeth.

Throw anything you can at the animal(s), such as rocks, sticks, sand, etc...
Make a lot of noise.
Use your pepper spray.

Do not play dead. Cougars know the difference between living and non living prey. They
will try to kill you by suffocation, and will not stop until you have stopped breathing.
Fight back. You must fight back at the animal with the intention of killing it. If possible,
aiming for sensitive areas of its face; the eyes and nose are the most effective target areas.
The cougar must think that its own life is at risk in order for the attack to stop. If you are with a
group, group members must do everything possible to deter the cougar once an attack has
begun.

IDENTIFYING WOLVES (Canis lupus)

IDENTIFYING COUGARS (Felis concolor)

Wolves typically live in packs, but they can also be solitary. They usually avoid interactions
with humans. They are a very large canid, with a long bushy tail that is never worn curled.
They greatly vary in colour, from white to black. Males reach between 26 and 59 kg, 66 to
97cm in height, and 130 to 205 cm (including tail) in length. They are larger than females.
They can reach speeds of up to 55 km per hour during hunts.

Cougars are generally solitary animals, unless it is a mother cougar with kits. They are also
extremely elusive, and the chances of even seeing a cougar in the wild are low. Cougars are
Canada's largest wild cat, reaching between 45 kg and 74 kg, and usually around 2 m long.
The colour of the cougar ranges from a reddish to sandy brown or grey. Cougars are fast,
and can reach speeds up to 50 km per hour, usually reserved for hunting prey.

Copyright 2012: Professional Association of Wilderness Guides and Instructors Inc.