Cougar sighting In Everett prompts warning

Published 9:45 pm Tuesday, September 1, 2009

EVERETT — Four green eyes peered out from bushes in Aja Moore’s Silver Lake-area back yard late Monday night.

Moore realized the eyes didn’t belong to raccoons, neighborhood dogs or house cats. They belonged to cougars.

“They’re huge,” Moore said. “These things are not little, these are some big cats.”

State Fish and Wildlife officials said Tuesday there have been at least four reported cougar sightings near Silver Lake and in the area between I-5 and Lowell-Larimer Road, Capt. Bill Hebner said.

“More likely than not that we have cougars in that neighborhood,” he said. “Every year they pass through and move on.”

There have not been reports of the big cats being aggressive toward people, Hebner said.

Still, it’s best to use extreme caution if people encounter one of the large wild animals.

Unlike bears and coyotes, cougars tend to feed on live prey, he said. In urban settings, they may go after pet dogs or cats.

“If I was a small pet owner, I would definitely keep my small pets indoors,” Hebner said.

In the wild, the 150-pound cats typically feed on deer and elk.

If someone does encounter a cougar — sometimes called a puma or mountain lion — it’s best to try to appear as large as possible and to make a lot of noise.

Anyone who sees one of the big cats is asked to call the state Department of Fish &Wildlife at 425-775-1311.

Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com