> MacPhee said the general advice on cougars is that they attack from behind, so if a person encounters one they should stand their ground, make themselves as big as possible, put their hands over their heads and yell.
Sound advice. It's a shame this fellow felt he had to kill the cougar. Generally (like bears and wolves and rattlesnakes) they are more afraid of humans than humans are of them.
Rattlesnakes are not afraid of humans. They would prefer not to waste venom on something that they cannot eat, but they know no fear.
Well, apparently this cougar wasn't afraid or he wouldn't have kept coming. Sounds like the guy did what he needed to. I can't help but wonder if he didn't end up saving somebody's life.
I was going to say, that may be good advice if you don't have a firearm. The fact is the man was in peril of this animal attacking him, he did the right thing regardless of how you feel about it. I mean would you feel better if the man had tried to do what you say he should have done and ended up cougar food? If I were standing in his shoes, I would have done the exact same thing, no hesitation.