Seattle closes Discovery Park after cougar sighting

SEATTLE — City officials have closed Seattle’s Discovery Park after a report that a cougar had been seen.

Parks spokeswoman Joelle Ligon says state Department of Fish and Wildlife officials received a “credible” report Wednesday evening that a cougar was on the old parade grounds of the park, a former Army base bordering Puget Sound on the city’s northwest side. There have been several reports of what could be a cougar recently in north Seattle, including in the nearby Magnolia neighborhood.

Ligon says the 534-acre park will be closed until Monday or the cougar is caught. Wildlife officials are setting up a trap in hopes of catching the cat and relocating it away from the city.