Cougar captured in Camp Sherman

The elusive Camp Sherman area cougar was captured early Sunday morning, January 18, near Pine Lodge Road.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and Forest Service personnel set a large animal trap near the swimming pool and cabana in the Metolius Meadows residential area. The trapping procedure started one week ago.

The animal has been seen around housing areas for quite some time. Since this is an inhabited area with small children around, officials considered the cougar a threat.

A resident's household cat had been killed by the cougar.

Ben Benhower of the U.S. Forest Service, and a local resident, lives adjacent to the swimming pool and cabana where the cougar was captured. Last week, while he was at the cabana, the cougar sprang from underneath the decking and ran from the area.

Chip Dale of ODFW was on the site Sunday morning following capture of the cougar.

ODFW was in charge of the operation and Benhower was maintaining the trap. No pictures were allowed and the animal was to be killed.

Chip Dale of ODFW said, "The female cougar trapped in Camp Sherman on Sunday was euthanized because of its continuing return to residential areas and not showing any fear of humans during these activities.

"This was done by chemical injection so as to cause as little suffering as possible for the animal," he said.

Forested areas of the Pacific Northwest are typical cougar habitat. Their primary prey is deer.