La Pine driver spots cougar with deer carcass

A La Pine-area driver saw a cougar carrying a deer carcass across a road Tuesday night, but an area check did not find the animal, the most recent in several cougar sightings around Central Oregon in recent weeks, authorities said.

Around 9:45 p.m., the passing motorist saw a cougar carrying a deer carcass across La Pine State Recreation Road, near the Little Deschutes River, said Deschutes County sheriff’s Lt. Chad Davis.

The cougar was last seen traveling southbound from State Recreation Road, Davis said. An area check was completed and the cougar was not located.

“Residents and people recreating near the Little Deschutes River area should be aware of the sighting,” Davis said in a news release. “The Sheriff’s Office encourages the public to report all cougar sightings and to remain at a safe distance during a sighting.”

On the morning of Monday, Sept. 8th, a runner spotted encountered a cougar in southwest Bend, in the area of Buck Canyon Road west of Brookswood Boulevard.Deputies found tracks but not the animal.

On Monday of this week, La Pine High School officials reported a cougar sighting in the woods on the west side of the school (on the other side of the fence).

Other unconfirmed sightings have occurred south of La Pine and on the south end of Bend in recent days.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says many of the cougars seen in residential areas are just passing through as they search for territory. Many times, the agency says, these cougars are young males.

There are more than 5,000 cougars in Oregon, so they say cougars are bound to wander into areas populated with people, pets and livestock.

For safety tips and information about cougars, visit the ODFW website at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with/cougars.asp