Cougar sighted on highway

Sheriff's deputies warned school officials and local residents to keep an eye out for a cougar that was seen crossing Highway 242 just west of Sisters High School.

Deputies were unable to locate the cat after the sighting was reported by a driver for a local excavating company on Wednesday, November 20.

Cougar sightings have become fairly common in the area around Sisters. A sheltie dog was mauled by a cougar in Plainview in April, at about the same time a cougar was seen frequenting the Metolius Meadows area of Camp Sherman.

A cougar frequented the area around Tollgate for a couple of weeks last winter.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Steven George has offered consistent advice in the wake of local cougar sightings.

He suggests that the most important thing to remember if a cougar is encountered is not to panic.

Do not run away. According to George, turning your back and running will trigger the cat's predatory instincts, making an attack much more likely. Instead, yell, wave your arms and make yourself as big as possible.

That should convince the cat that you are not good prey. Once the cat retreats, slowly and deliberately leave the area.

Dogs can be a problem, George acknowledged, especially if you run across a cat who has tangled with a dog in the past.

"Some cats don't like dogs to the point where they'll come after (the dog)," George said.

The best way to avoid cougar problems is to be alert and stay away from kill sites.

George recommends that hikers and skiers go out in pairs and avoid being in the woods in early morning or early evening -- the big cats' favorite hunting hours.