Cougars are incredible predators and, as has been stated above, a person wouldn't normally have much of a chance in a surprise attack.
We have a significant population of them here. Over the past few years in British Columbia, they have attacked pets, colts, joggers, people on bikes, and even people on horseback. A few years ago, a woman was killed in south central B.C. while she and 2 others were aboard their horses.

Yet, there recently occurred an attack on a lone individual, which he survived and the cougar did not. A fellow on Vancouver Island (an island 240 miles long on coastal B.C.) was pounced on but he managed to get out his lock-blade knife and kill the cat. This happened last Summer and he was interviewed on TV just 2 nights ago. His multiple injuries are still healing.

Although packing some sort of weapon could possibly help you survive such an attack, wresting with a cougar is not something that I'd recommend.

Edited by - Canuck_2 on 10/23/2002 16:11:51