ISU Bengal

Issue date: 8/27/08 Section: News

Media Credit: MCT

Multiple reports of cougar sightings around Red Hill and Bartz Field area were made to Public Safety during the summer. Precautionary e-mails were sent out to all students, warning them to be on alert when visiting the areas, but Fish and Game has not been able to confirm the presence of cougars around ISU.

According to Steve Chatterton, Public Safety Director, Public Safety brought in Fish and Game upon the sightings to set up traps around the ISU campus in an attempt to capture and locate the cougars. They investigated the area and nearby trails where the cougars might live. Fish and Game were unable to find or capture any cougars, and the traps have been removed for the safety of the students this fall.

Chatterton said Fish and Game believes the area to be safe, since the cougars have not been seen since July and all the sightings reported the cougars not acting aggressively but rather running away from humans.

Chatterton does want to emphasize, however, that people should remain alert around Bartz Field and Red Hill and to report any cougar sightings immediately.

"A lot of people might be embarrassed to call, but don't be. If you're jogging and you have your cell phone on you, pull it out right then and call," Chatterton said.

If Public Safety is notified as soon as the sighting occurs they will have a better chance of locating the cougar, so they can move it to a location where it poses less danger to people.

Fish and Game reports that "according to research, 17 human fatalities due to lions have been recorded in the past 118 years in the North America. Only one injury has been recorded in Idaho in the past 20 years."

However, Fish and Game reminds people to be very cautious if they do encounter a cougar and to use the following precautions:

? Do not run. Stay calm and keep eye contact. Move slowly and try to back away. Running away may trigger the animal's instinct to chase.

? Remain in an upright position. Do not crouch down, as mountain lions are more likely to go after shorter prey. Do what you can to appear large by raising and waving your arms or opening your jacket. Yell in a loud, firm voice.

? Never turn your back on a mountain lion. Always maintain eye contact and face the lion. Convince the lion that you are not a deer, which is the lion's chief prey.

? When you walk or hike in lion country, go in groups and make enough noise to avoid surprising a lion. While lions are not likely to approach humans, they are even less likely to approach a more threatening, larger group.

? Keep children close and in sight at all times. Pick small children up if a lion is near.

? Never approach a mountain lion. Give the lion a way out of a close situation.

? If a lion behaves aggressively, arm yourself with a large stick, rock or other object and face the lion. In the extreme case that a mountain lion attacks, remain standing and fight back with whatever object you have.

? Pepper spray is very effective in deterring a mountain lion and other carnivore attacks.

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