Report of cougar near Soap Lake unfounded

SOAP LAKE - Several people in the Soap Lake area recently reported possibly seeing a cougar near town although it may just be a local legend.

Soap Lake City Councilmember Keith Hagglund said last week his daughter and her friend were walking Monday night when they reported seeing a cougar near the city. Hagglund said there were cougar tracks near the food bank on Main Street, figuring the animal was scavenging through the outside dumpster for food.

Sgt. Mike Jewell with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said he had not received any reports of a cougar in the area, but decided to investigate last week after a call from the Columbia Basin Herald.

Jewell said there were no tracks near the food bank. Although the several people he spoke to believed they saw a cougar, they were not able to provide a description of what they saw. He also said it is rare for a cougar to be scavenging for food in a dumpster.

Jewell said one person said whatever he saw was "larger than a human," hunched down in the bushes. Jewell said he was skeptical from the reports that there is a cougar in the area at this time and the sightings are not considered credible. He added many reports of cougar sightings reported to Fish and Wildlife turn out to be false.

Jewell reminds citizens to report any cougar sightings or any dangerous animal to the Department of Fish and Wildlife by calling the non-emergency line at 877-933-9847. Any incidents can also be reported online at www.wdfw.wa.gov.