Compared With increasing media reports of encounters between mountain lions and humans, many people who recreate outdoors worry about the risk of attack. Records indicate the risk is still quite low. Thirteen of these attacks were fatal and 56 resulted in nonfatal maulings.
Experts are at a loss to explain why.
The low risk of a fatal cougar attack can be put into perspective by comparing it with more common causes of death. If you spend time outdoors, consider the hazards posed by animals or nature.