KIRKLAND, Wash. — The Kirkland Police is asking pet owners to keep a watchful eye on their animals, after a series of cougar and coyote sightings in the city.
The department posted the warning on Friday, urging owners to supervise their pets while they are outdoors, keep them leashed while on walks, and make sure their pet licenses and vaccines are up to date.
If you encounter a cougar or coyote, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife says do not run. Instead, stand your ground. Wildlife officials say to make yourself appear large by waving your arms, yelling loudly, and backing away slowly while maintaining eye contact. If the animal seems aggressive, fight back with whatever you have available, like rocks or sticks, and try to scare it off.
They also say it is important to report the encounter to local authorities.
KIRO 7 contacted Kirkland Police to inquire when the sightings began and whether this was a single cougar or multiple cougars.
Kirkland Police told KIRO 7 that the initial concerns were brought up at a neighborhood meeting a couple of weeks ago leading them to believe that the sightings have occurred over the past month.
“Without images to confirm, it’s possible that some residents may mistake bobcats for cougars. When we receive multiple reports, it adds credibility to the claims,” wrote Kirkland Police. “In the past couple of months, we’ve had a few reported sightings. One community member specifically described seeing a large cat with a very long tail, which strongly suggests a cougar.”
Police also said that in previous years, cougars have been captured on Ring camera in the Evergreen Hill neighborhood, although sightings in that particular area are not unusual.
“Many of our residents are surprised they can roam in city limits so we want community members to be aware of the reported sightings in order to take precautions.”