With regard to bear and cougar, the one thing I've seen no mention of so
far is the fact that human encroachment is the main reason we're seeing an
increase in the number of cougars (don't know about bear but I suspect
it's the same). That is, according to ODF&W, the cougar population is
doing better than in previous years resulting in an increase in
population. Unfortunately (this is also per ODF&W), the human population
is taking more and more available cougar habitat resulting in a situation
where the young animals have no new territory open to them. So they have
no choice.

As for the incidence of missing pets, what preditor (and that includes
birds and humans) do you know who won't take an easy meal? The less
energy expended to feed oneself means an increased probability of survival.

Peggi