Michael Holkesvik

“Pepper Spray and Cougars. People assume that since pepper spray usually "works" on bears, it will work on cougars. In contrast, pepper spray was tested on bears under laboratory conditions long before it was sold to the public. Inventor Bill Pounds and biologist Chuck Jonkel wanted to make sure that spraying a bear didn't just further irritate it. Thus far, zookeepers have used pepper spray effectively on tigers, African lions, and jaguars. Pepper spray could prove to be an outstanding defensive weapon for people being stalked or followed by a cougar.

Walking sticks. Many hikers carry a walking stick; it could be used to wallop a cougar.”
― Dave Smith