Proceedings of the Ninth Mountain Lion Workshop - Carnivore ...

Table 8. Agency responses to what constitutes a public safety threat involving cougars, by
jurisdiction, as reported in a survey of North American wildlife agencies, 2008.
Alberta Human/cougar interaction where the cougar is threatening or has made contact with humans.
Cougar displaying habituation to human presence. Cougar staying in human-habituated areas
preying on pets.
Arizona Two categories: An incident, defined as an interaction between a human and a cougar in which the
human must take an action to make the lion back down or leave the area of the human, without
injury to the human. An Attack, when a human suffers bodily injury or is killed by a cougar.
California Threat must be imminent. The totality of circumstances must indicate that there is a high
probability that a person will be injured. This judgment is made by a Department employee or
peace officer.
Colorado An animal determined to be dangerous because of its behavior(s) or actions is killed. If a puma is a
"public safety concern" because of its location, it could be captured and relocated - so long as it has
not displayed unacceptable behaviors or actions
Florida An unprovoked aggressive/predatory behavior toward a human that requires the individual to take
defensive action to avoid direct contact.
Idaho Habituated or food-conditioned animal, daytime activity around people.
Montana A conflict between a human and mountain lion that may have serious results (i.e., a lion killing a
dog or a lion that must be forced to back down). An on-site investigation is conducted to determine
if the mountain lion is aggressive. If such a determination is made, the animal is destroyed. If the
animal is determined to be a nuisance, capture and transplanting will be used to remove the animal
from areas of human habitation.
New Mexico Any cougar that continually stays in a populated area and/or preys upon domestic animals in a
populated area.
Oregon Aggressive actions directed toward a person or persons, including but not limited to charging, false
charging, growling, teeth-popping, and snarling; b) Breaking into, or attempting to break into, a
residence; c) Attacking a pet or domestic animal as defined in ORS 167.310; d) Loss of wariness
of humans, displayed through repeated sightings of the animal during the day near a permanent
structure, permanent corral, or mobile dwelling used by humans at an agricultural, timber
management, ranching, or construction site.
Nevada Any lion that confronts a person. Depredation or attack on pets. Repeatedly observed in areas
where people are frequently located. In the vicinity of schools. Repeatedly in an area where a
vehicle collision is possible. Any lion unyielding to humans, acting inappropriately, sick, or just
repeatedly observed in an area.
South Dakota A sick or injured lion, a lion that enters a city limit, a lion that frequents a well-populated area,
aggressive behavior towards a human, attack on human.
Texas Unprovoked behavior in relation to a human as defined by the following examples: a mountain
lion displays some form of predatory behavior toward humans or pet (e.g., stalking, crouching, tail
twitching, rear leg ‘pumping’, ears flattened, fur erected, emitting hissing or snarling sounds,
rushing, attacking); a mountain lion intentionally approaches close to a human after the lion knows
the human has seen it; A mountain lion that is not cornered but refuses to retreat when objects are
thrown at it; a mountain lion approaches a human at close range and refuses to retreat even after
the human takes evasive or aggressive action to avoid attack; a mountain lion physically attacks a
human or pet. A mountain lion that has displayed aggressive behavior toward humans, including
an attack on a person or pet, a mountain lion that is perceived by a trained wildlife professional to
pose a serious threat to humans based on its behavior, location or other relevant circumstances.
Utah Any threat to a person
Washington Any perceived conflict with humans, pets, livestock or property.
Wyoming Aggressive behavior, lion presence in urban areas, especially if habituated or around children
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