For those living in cougar country:

• Keep pets indoors or in secure kennels at night, and never leave pet food or food scraps outside.
• Where practical, bring farm animals into enclosed sheds or barns at night.
• Closely supervise children playing outdoors, and make sure they are indoors by dusk, when cougars are more active.
• Light walkways and remove heavy vegetation or landscaping near the house.
• Store garbage in secure containers so odors do not attract small animals or other wildlife. Remember, predators follow prey.

For those hiking or recreating in cougar habitat:

• Hike in small groups and make enough noise to avoid surprising a cougar.
• Keep your camp clean and store food and garbage in double plastic bags.
• Keep small children close to the group, preferably in plain sight just ahead of you.
• Do not approach dead animals, especially deer or elk; they could have been cougar prey left for a later meal.

For those who encounter a cougar:

• Stop, stand tall and don't run. Pick up small children. Don't run. A cougar's instinct is to chase.
• Do not approach the animal, especially if it is near a kill or with kittens.
• Try to appear larger than the cougar. Never take your eyes off the animal or turn your back. Do not crouch down or try to hide.
• If the animal displays aggressive behavior, shout, wave your arms and throw rocks. The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger.
• If the cougar attacks, fight back aggressively and try to stay on your feet. Cougars have been driven away by people who have fought back.