JOHN DAY, Ore. Two small cougars were shot and killed in John Day on Friday after they were spotted in town near a park.
An Oregon State Police trooper shot and killed the first cougar, police said. A second cougar was killed about 4 hours later. A third cougar that was spotted has not been found.
A John Day resident called 911 Friday at 12:15 p.m. to report a cougar was in a dugout at a park within the city limits of the eastern Oregon town, according to OSP Master Sergeant Gordon Larson. After the first report, another resident who lives nearby called 911 to report 2 cougars in his back yard.
OSP troopers responded and found one cougar near a baseball field. An OSP Fish and Wildlife Division trooper shot and killed the cougar because it was close to nearby homes and people using the park, police said. The cougar weighed an estimated 25-30 pounds and appeared malnourished, according to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Biologist Ryan Torland.
Police and wildlife authorities searched for the other 2 cougars for 6 hours. A second cougar, similar in size to the first, was shot and killed near the baseball field at 4:30 p.m.
The third cougar was spotted, but searchers lost its trail, according to Larson.
No evacuations were necessary during the search, Larson said. A local radio station broadcasted a warning to residents to keep their pets inside during the search.
Police and ODFW ask John Day residents to call 911 if they see a cougar. The risk of a cougar attack is very low, according to ODFW.
If you encounter a cougar, ODFW offers the following safety tips:
Cougars often will retreat if given the opportunity. Leave the animal a way to escape.
Stay calm and stand your ground.
Maintain direct eye contact.
Pick up children, but do so without bending down or turning your back on the cougar.
Back away slowly.
Do not run. Running triggers a chase response in cougars, which could lead to an attack.
Raise your voice and speak firmly.
If the cougar seems aggressive, raise your arms to make yourself look larger and clap your hands.
If in the very unusual event that a cougar attacks you, fight back with rocks, sticks, tools or any items available.
An Oregon State Police trooper shot and killed the first cougar, police said. A second cougar was killed about 4 hours later. A third cougar that was spotted has not been found.
A John Day resident called 911 Friday at 12:15 p.m. to report a cougar was in a dugout at a park within the city limits of the eastern Oregon town, according to OSP Master Sergeant Gordon Larson. After the first report, another resident who lives nearby called 911 to report 2 cougars in his back yard.
OSP troopers responded and found one cougar near a baseball field. An OSP Fish and Wildlife Division trooper shot and killed the cougar because it was close to nearby homes and people using the park, police said. The cougar weighed an estimated 25-30 pounds and appeared malnourished, according to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Biologist Ryan Torland.
Police and wildlife authorities searched for the other 2 cougars for 6 hours. A second cougar, similar in size to the first, was shot and killed near the baseball field at 4:30 p.m.
The third cougar was spotted, but searchers lost its trail, according to Larson.
No evacuations were necessary during the search, Larson said. A local radio station broadcasted a warning to residents to keep their pets inside during the search.
Police and ODFW ask John Day residents to call 911 if they see a cougar. The risk of a cougar attack is very low, according to ODFW.
If you encounter a cougar, ODFW offers the following safety tips:
Cougars often will retreat if given the opportunity. Leave the animal a way to escape.
Stay calm and stand your ground.
Maintain direct eye contact.
Pick up children, but do so without bending down or turning your back on the cougar.
Back away slowly.
Do not run. Running triggers a chase response in cougars, which could lead to an attack.
Raise your voice and speak firmly.
If the cougar seems aggressive, raise your arms to make yourself look larger and clap your hands.
If in the very unusual event that a cougar attacks you, fight back with rocks, sticks, tools or any items available.
