As the cougar struck, Jim gave his wife the instructions that would save his life. "Jim was talking to me all through this," Mrs Hamm said. "He said, 'I've got a pen in my pocket and get the pen and jab him in the eye, but it didn't want to go in as easy as I thought it would," she continued. Mr Hamm was taken to hospital suffering multiple lacerations and two cougars were later shot by rangers.