How Cougars Use Their Climbing Skills to Escape Danger

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True masters of stealth, cougars are so well-camouflaged and silent that you could be just a few feet away and never know one was there. Resting 30 feet up in a tree, however, you might assume you’re safe from one of these quiet cats. However, as you’ll see in this video, even a skilled arborist climbing high above the ground isn’t completely out of reach of a surprise cougar encounter!

Where Do Cougars Live?

Cougars (Puma concolor) are one of the most widespread cats in the Americas. They roam across North, Central, and South America, from Canada and the United States all the way down to Patagonia. Cougars are known by many different names, from mountain lions and pumas to catamounts, and ghost cats. They are adaptable cats who thrive in a variety of habitats. While they prefer forests, rocky terrain, and dense underbrush, cougars also thrive in snow mountains, deserts, and even swamps.

As ambush predators, cougars silently stalk their prey with remarkable stealth. They mainly hunt deer in the mornings and evenings, and sometimes under the cover of night. Cougars have amazing eyesight during both the day and night, allowing them to find and stalk their prey with precision.

How and Why Do Cougars Climb Trees?

With their muscular bodies, cougars are well-built for climbing. Their thick back legs are slightly longer and help the cats climb trees quickly and efficiently. Their massive paws are flexible and dexterous, allowing them to climb vertically and horizontally as well. In addition, cougars have sharp, retractable claws that provide excellent grip on various terrains, while their long tails help them to balance on high branches.

When danger is near — especially threats like humans, bears, wolves, or dogs — cougars can quickly and skillfully scramble up a tree to escape and disappear from view. They also climb trees to get a better view of their surroundings and sometimes for a safe napping spot away from prying eyes.

How High Can a Cougar Climb?

It’s difficult to know exactly how high a cougar can climb. However, these acrobatic felines can leap across a 40-foot horizontal gap and jump 18 feet vertically. This means they can easily scale smaller or medium-sized trees for quick escapes and cozy cat naps. Taller trees (40 feet or more) aren’t usually their first choice, but cougars will climb them when trying to escape a threat.

In the video above, the arborist was at least 30 feet up a tree when he came face-to-face with the cougar. Arborists often climb trees using ropes and harnesses to research, manage, and maintain trees and other plants.

The arborist in the video is a professional who was likely trying to encourage the cougar to leave the area. The sound of barking dogs below him suggests there may have been several tactics to scare the cougar away. It’s also possible he was even trying to get the cougar to climb down so it could be safely tranquilized and relocated.

What To Do If You Encounter a Cougar

While cougar encounters are rare, they do occasionally occur. If you do happen to cross paths with a cougar in the wild, remember to stay calm and NEVER run. Don’t turn your back on the animal, and immediately pick up any pets or small children with you.

Make yourself look as big as possible by raising your arms or a jacket above your head. Speak loudly and forcefully as you slowly back away and leave the area — but remember, do not run. Running triggers a cougar’s instinct to chase, and it will easily outrun you. In the unlikely event of a cougar attack, fight back aggressively.