Have there been any recent cougar attacks?

Answer 1

Cougar attacks happen frequently. Here in northern Idaho, I would guess at perhaps 2 to 5 cougar attacks per year. Fortunately, cougars are fairly easy to drive off with a large stick, or something similar. The hate to work much for their food. On the other hand, fatal cougar attacks are rare.

Answer 2

Attacks by cougars are very rare but when they do happen they tend to make big news. Between 1890 and 1990, in North America there were 53 reported, confirmed attacks on humans, resulting in 48 nonfatal injuries and 10 deaths of humans (the total is greater than 53 because some attacks had more than one victim). By 2004, the count had climbed to 88 attacks and 20 deaths. California has the highest number of attacks because the state has both a high concentration of people as well as of cougars. Statistics seem so show that, on average, only one attack happens every two years or so on average in North America. Compare that to attacks on humans by domestic dogs. In South America the subspecies living there seem very reluctant to attack humans even when humans are attacking them.