Latest U.S. and Canada Attack Numbers
from E. Lee Fitzhugh

Here are the figures as of December 8, 2000. I've updated my list since then, but not the totals.
I've been in the process and got interrupted by other projects. ~ E. Lee Fitzhugh; 05/01/2001

Frequency of Puma Attacks on Humans (According to Beier’s Criteria):

Date	Attack Total	Attacks per year	Fatal	Nonfatal
1800-1880	89 attacks	1.1/year	extrapolated by me
1880-1890	20 attacks	1.8/year	extrapolated by me
1890-1970	21 attacks	0.3/year	5	16
1971-1980	17 attacks	1.7/year	4	13
1981-1990	20 attacks	2.0/year	2	18
1991-2000	38 attacks	3.8/year	7	31
Long Term Figures
1890-2000	96 attacks	0.9/year	18	78
1880-2000	116 attacks	1.0/year
1800-2000	205 attacks	1.0/year

(For USA and Canada; only substantiated accounts involving physical contact
for data from 1890-2000; all data included from 1800-1889)

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About Lion Defense from E. Lee Fitzhugh 05/01/2001

My more recent advice has been modified to include: Do crouch down to pick up sticks, rocks, etc., but do it in an aggressive manner, with vocalizations, as though you are preparing to spring at the puma. It's worth a brief crouch to have something defensive (or offensive). Do scream, shout, make loud noises. A scream of terror seems as effective as other noises at frightening pumas. The louder the better. The more emotion (anger, aggression, fright), the better.

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