Cougar caught asleep in George back yard

GEORGE — A 113-pound male cougar was found sleeping on a patio in George.

State Fish and Wildlife Department Enforcement Officer Chris Zuchlewski received a call Monday morning about a cougar sleeping in the back yard of a residence on Road U Southwest, near George. Department personnel Sgt. Doug Ward, officer Graham Grant, and cougar/bear biologist Rich Beausoleil responded to assist.

The cat was still sleeping on the patio when the officers arrived.

Beausoleil was able to get close enough to dart the cat it with a tranquilizer gun. The cougar was outfitted with a radio collar and an ear tag.

The cat had numerous porcupine quills stuck in its face and front paws, which were removed by Zuchlewski while the cat was tranquilized.

The cougar appeared to be a 2-year-old male, weighing 113 pounds. The animal seemed to be healthy despite the quills.

It was later released in an undisclosed location, and will be tracked to ensure it does not become a problem.

Cougar attacks on humans are extremely rare. In North America, roughly 25 fatalities and 95 nonfatal attacks have been reported during the past 100 years. In the last 20 years, more cougar attacks have been reported in the western United States and Canada than in the previous 80 years.

In Washington, of the one fatal and 15 nonfatal attacks were reported in the past 100 years. Seven attacks occurred during the 1990s.

Although Fish and Wildlife consider cougar sightings to be rare, there have been several cougars killed in the Columbia Basin during the past 10 years. Hunters killed two mountains lions within 10 miles of Ephrata one hunting season and enforcement officers killed another on the outskirts of the city the following spring.

Wilson Creek has had its share of cougar sightings and one animal was spotted near the Mattawa school one summer. Another hunter killed a cougar while hunting chukar on the west side of Lake Lenore.

Cougars

Cougars are solitary animals and avoid being seen by humans, however they can adapt to most any landscape.

Two events occurred in Washington State, which caused an increase in the cougar population. First hunting with hounds was outlawed and second the deer population increased significantly.

“Where there is a sizeable amount of deer, there is a chance of having a cougar in the area,” Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Capt. Chris Anderson said.

The cougar is also known by several names, such as mountain lion, puma, catamount and panther.

They are the largest members of the cat family in North America. Adult males average approximately 140 pounds, but in a perfect situation may weigh 180 pounds and measure 7 or 8 feet long from their nose to tip of tail.

Adult males stand about 30 inches tall at the shoulder. Adult female cougars are about 25 percent smaller than males. These animals may vary in color from reddish-brown, tawny or gray and varying combinations of those colors. There is a black tip on their long tail.

Fish and Wildlife estimates the cougar population in Washington is unknown, but in 2002 they were estimating it was roughly 2,500.

After a series of cougar encounters, they have started hound hunting in high cougar density areas, mainly the northeast portion of the state.

Fish and Wildlife lists the following facts about cougars:

• Adult male cougars roam widely, covering a home range of 50 to 150 square miles.
• Adult male cougars’ home ranges will often overlap those of three or four females.
• Female home ranges are about half of males and there is considerable overlap in female home ranges.
• Often female young will establish a territory adjacent to mother, while virtually all males disperse considerable distances from the natal area.
• Cougars can be vocal and even purr like a house cat.
• Cougars are very solitary animals that meet only to mate or, with males, to fight over territory.
• Males won’t share their territory willingly.

Advice

When encountering a cougar,  Fish and Wildlife suggests the following actions:

• Stop, pick up small children immediately, and don’t run. Running and rapid movements may trigger an attack. Remember, at close range, a cougar’s instinct is to chase.
• Face the cougar. Talk to it firmly while slowly backing away. Always leave the animal an escape route.
• Try to appear larger than the cougar. Get above it, such as stepping up onto a rock or stump. If wearing a jacket, hold it open to further increase your apparent size. If you are in a group, stand shoulder-to-shoulder to appear intimidating.
• Do not take your eyes off the cougar or turn your back. Do not crouch down or try to hide. Never approach the cougar, especially if it is near a kill or one with kittens and never offer it food.
• If the cougar does not flee, be more assertive. If it shows signs of aggression, such as crouching with ears back, teeth bared, hissing, tail twitching, and hind feet pumping in preparation to jump, shout, wave your arms and throw anything you have available, water bottle, book, backpack, etc. The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger.
• If the cougar attacks, fight back. Be aggressive and try to stay on your feet. Cougars have been driven away by people who have fought back using anything within reach, including sticks, rocks, shovels, backpacks, and clothing, even bare hands. If you are aggressive enough, a cougar will flee, realizing it has made a mistake. Pepper spray in the cougar’s face is also effective.