A farm owner in British Columbia engaged in a courageous fight with a cougar to save one of her baby goats. Her security camera caught the whole thing. The footage shows the cougar with its mouth and front legs wrapped around the Nigerian dwarf goat as the animal struggles to break free. Gina Moore runs into the barn moments later, shouting at the big cat before driving it off with a powerful kick, according to KTVU.
Moore later said she acted on instinct, saying she had been “running on adrenaline” and knew the cougar could turn on her at any time. She runs a farm that is home to geese, cows, and four Nigerian dwarf goats. She bought the goats after losing a miniature horse to a black bear last year.
This was not the first predator to threaten Moore’s animals. She said bears and cougars have only recently started hunting on her property, and she believes nearby development is pushing them out of their natural habitat. She takes protecting her animals seriously, and proved this by not hesitating when the cougar attacked.
This is part of what appears to be a growing trend elsewhere. As homes and development spread into wild areas, encounters between people, livestock, and large predators such as cougars have grown more common. The good news is that cougars rarely target people, and there are clear steps for keeping animals safe and reacting calmly if one shows up.
How Common Are Cougar Attacks?
The video is frightening, but cougars almost never go after people. Attacks on humans are rare, with 29 deaths recorded across North America between 1890 and 2008, according to Wikipedia. The cats are generally shy and do not see adults as prey, which is why livestock and pets are far more often the target than people are.
Cougars range across much of the western United States and Canada, with a single animal’s territory sometimes covering more than 100 square miles. As development pushes into that habitat, the animals are increasingly turning up near homes, farms, and trails in search of food. That overlap is what leads to more sightings and, occasionally, attacks on animals such as Moore’s goats.
How Can You Protect Your Animals and Yourself?
If you live where cougars roam, the most effective protection is a secure place to keep pets like chickens, goats, and other livestock. Bring them all in at night or keep them in a barn or pen with a sturdy roof. Clear out all the brush and clutter that give predators a place to hide, and try to keep from leaving food out, which can draw in the smaller animals cougars like to hunt.
If you come face-to-face with a cougar, do not run. Make yourself look as large as possible by raising your arms or opening your jacket, keep eye contact, and speak in a firm, loud voice. Back away slowly, and never crouch or turn your back. If a cougar does attack, fight back and protect your head and neck. You should raise your chances of survival significantly.