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White Salmon, WA (KPTV) — The White Salmon Valley School District is alerting parents after several cougar sightings this week.
While there have been no reports of any people or animals injured, the sightings are not far from the schools, which has prompted the district to warn parents who may have children walking or biking to school.
One of the sightings was in a field off Northwest Spring Street, which is just feet from homes.
Katie Layne and her husband, Rick Hallyburton, say it was a normal routine getting ready for work except for one unexpected visitor.
“Thought it was a dog but the way it was moving, it wasn’t a dog,” Hallyburton said.
He quickly realized what was in a field just feet from his backyard.
“I mean, once I saw the tail, I knew what it was, I was like, ‘hey honey, come here, it’s a huge cat out there in the field just across the street’, she didn’t even believe me,” Hallyburton said.
“I was like, yeah, right, there’s no a cougar in White Salmon,” Layne said.
But it was a cougar.
They saw all of this from their back porch and Layne made sure to take a picture.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says it believes the multiple sightings in White Salmon is one cougar that’s moving west out of town.
Layne says it was a pretty incredible moment and, while there is a bit of uncertainty about what the animal could do, she appreciates seeing the animal in nature.
That’s why they live there.
“It’s not to be feared and, you know, to hide from but definitely keep your eyes open,” Layne said. “The way that they are kind of sneaky is the scariest part. You don’t know if they’re under a tree or in a bush but I think we’re pretty safe it’s not trying to bother anybody.”
So, what do you do if you encounter a cougar?
Here are some tips from Fish and Wildlife:
Stop, pick up small children immediately, and don’t run. Running and rapid movements may trigger an attack. Remember, at close range, a cougar’s instinct is to chase.
Face the cougar. Talk to it firmly while slowly backing away. Always leave the animal an escape route.
Try to appear larger than the cougar. Get above it (e.g., step up onto a rock or stump). If wearing a jacket, hold it open to further increase your apparent size. If you are in a group, stand shoulder-to-shoulder to appear intimidating.
Do not take your eyes off the cougar or turn your back. Do not crouch down or try to hide.
Never approach the cougar, especially if it is near a kill or with kittens, and never offer it food.
If the cougar does not flee, be more assertive. If it shows signs of aggression (crouches with ears back, teeth bared, hissing, tail twitching, and hind feet pumping in preparation to jump), shout, wave your arms and throw anything you have available (water bottle, book, backpack). The idea is to convince the cougar that you are not prey, but a potential danger.
If the cougar attacks, fight back. Be aggressive and try to stay on your feet. Cougars have been driven away by people who have fought back using anything within reach, including sticks, rocks, shovels, backpacks, and clothing—even bare hands. If you are aggressive enough, a cougar will flee, realizing it has made a mistake. Pepper spray in the cougar’s face is also effective in the extreme unlikelihood of a close encounter with a cougar.
As for people who live in White Salmon, they’re surprised and say they’re keeping kids and pets safe.
Brian Morris, who lives not far from Hallyburton and Layne, says he’s concerned because there are a number of kids who live on the block.
“We basically don’t let em’ go outside right now until we know it’s safe,” Morris said. “And I got a little kitty cat that I don’t want to get eaten up.”
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