Thursday, March 28, 2024

Cougars in the area, what to do if you encounter one

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CHELAN – Rumor has it that neighbors from the Lake Chelan area have been seeing a few kitties here and there … not the friendly type per se.

Earlier this month, a few locals shared with friends on social media posts and pictures of cougar footprints near their homes. The most recent post on February 17, in the Wapato Lake area in Manson.

According to Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Officer Eric Oswald, reports on cougars in the area are up more than average. The weather forces deer to come down to lower elevations which then makes the cougars follow their prey, which is not uncommon, Oswald explained. The cougar and the prey then end up near people’s homes.

This, however, does not mean that there are more cougars lingering around in the area. It just means that people are seeing them around more. Oswald states that a lot of more people are capturing cougar activity on their security cameras, others, for example, are capturing cougar tracks with their digital cameras.

Oswald clarified that the Department of Wildlife keeps a record of all reports which are split into two categories. One category is designated to reports from people who can confirm they have seen or encounter the wild animal and they can determine it was a cougar and not another animal. Reports of cougar tracks or security cameras are then kept in another separate file.

He advises reporting all cougar encounters especially if you spot large amounts of fresh footprints or if there are any accidents with livestock or pets being attacked, that way the Department of Wildlife can respond right away.

For non-emergency reports contact the Wenatchee office (509) 662-0452 Monday thru Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or the Olympia office 1-877-933-9847. For immediate emergencies contact the Washington State Patrol Dispatch (509) 682-8090 or 911.

Do's and Don'ts in Cougar Country

While recreating in cougar habitat, you should:
    •    Hike in small groups and make enough noise to avoid surprising a cougar.
    •    Keep your camp clean and store food and garbage in double plastic bags.
    •    Keep small children close to the group, preferably in plain sight just ahead of you.
    •    Do not approach dead animals, especially deer or elk; they could have been cougar prey left for a later meal.

If you encounter a cougar:
    •    Stop, stand tall and don't run. Pick up small children. Don't run. A cougar's instinct is to chase.
    •    Do not approach the animal, especially if it is near a kill or with kittens.
    •    Try to appear larger than the cougar. Never take your eyes off the animal or turn your back. Do not crouch down or try to hide.
    •    If the animal displays aggressive behavior, shout, wave your arms and throw rocks. The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger.
    •    If the cougar attacks, fight back aggressively and try to stay on your feet. Cougars have been driven away by people who have fought back.


 

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