Cougar cub dies; Sisters sees more of the big cats

Walt Paul eased up close to a border collie-sized brown, spotted cat lying next to an old log along Squaw Creek near his home on Monday, October 30.

"Looks like it's got a bad eye," Paul said quietly, as he got closer.

The diminutive cougar made no move to rush off, or fight him; it just laid where it was trembling, as if in shock. "Looks like it's a pretty young cub, about 5 to 6 weeks - if that," Paul said. This was a surprise. Cougars are almost always out of their baby spots this time of year, yet this cub still had very distinct dark spots.

Paul wanted to get closer to see how serious the injury was, however, he has a healthy respect for cougars - even little ones. The cub's powerful legs and sharp claws could inflict a lot of damage if he got too close.

Paul had called Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in Bend an hour earlier regarding the injured cougar, and while he was trying to get a closer look, ODFW biologist Cory Heath drove up with Jennifer Birch, ODFW fish biologist who had come along to see what mammalian biology was all about.

Heath put on his leather gloves, and then carefully placed a snare over the young cougar to immobilize it. As he gently probed around the animal's ears and fur, he could feel bone chips, and see a massive injury to the back of it's head with swelling that closed the left eye completely.

It appeared the animal may have been struck by a vehicle on the road close by.

Now the big question was what to do?

Heath and Paul both felt that the mother cougar might be close by, as the injury looked only a few hours old - which kept them both looking over their shoulder. Unfortunately, the young cougar wasn't capable of standing on its feet for longer than a few minutes.

If the cub had been capable of moving, and acted alert, Heath said he would have administered antibiotics and electrolytes and let momma cougar handle it.

That's the biggest problem rehabilatators have when caring for injured predators of this age and species. Each time they're handled, it's trauma for human and animal. Either of them - or both - could be seriously injured during contact.

"I don't think this poor little guy's going to make it," Heath said as he carefully placed the cub in the transporting cage. In fact, the cub could not survive his injuries and had to be put down.

As he was locking the cage he turned to Paul and said this was the fourth human-cougar contact in the Sisters area reported this week to ODF&W.

An adult male was struck by a vehicle and killed not far from where the injured cub was found. Two sightings were also reported near Camp Sherman.

There's a great deal of circumstantial evidence suggesting that cougar populations are on the rise. And not just here in Sisters, but throughout the western US and parts of Canada.

All one has to do in Oregon is mention cougars to hound dog hunters, and they'll be quick to point out that when the law was passed prohibiting the use of dogs to hunt bear and cougar it was like opening Pandora's Box. But others say that there's just more people invading cougar country that makes for more cougar sightings.

Steve George, ODFW biologist in Bend, thinks it's perhaps a combination of both.

What ever the reasons, it's prudent to keep your eyes open and take a few common sense precautions when in the woods. Don't invite a personal cougar contact. It could be much more personal than you'd really want.

Unfortunately, children - probably because of their size - seem to be at risk when confronted by a cougar that's on the prowl. In Canada, there have been children (and adults) killed and mauled by cougars. Last year, in California, an adult women was killed.

While hiking into cougar country - and based on where we're seeing cougars today, that could be on the outskirts of Sisters - you might want to take along a large dog, on a leash. Cougars, as a rule, don't bother people with dogs.

If you're a solo hiker, stay on the trails and make noise. If there's a cougar around let it know that you're a human by whistling, humming a little tune or even talking to yourself.

If you should come face-to-face with a cougar - either on a trail or bushwhacking - never lose eye-contact. According to big cat experts, you should stand tall, make yourself look bigger than you really are. Shout at the animal, "Hey there cougar! I'm a human! It's me, your old pal, John Henry!"

Chances are, the cougar will amble off.

The worst thing you can do is turn and run!

The combination of eye-contact, facing the animal down, and shouting are very effective at reducing serious problems between man and cougar.

For those on horseback, chances are a cougar will give you a wide berth. But if one should suddenly appear on the trail and not back down and run, you might put the spurs to your horse and charge the cougar.

But be darn sure you know what your horse is going to do... the last thing you want is to get piled right on top of a panicky panther.