Recent Bend cougar kill prompts meeting

Dozens piled into the Central Oregon Environmental Center in downtown Bend Wednesday night to talk cougars. The group specifically was there to become more educated in cougar euthanization and to discuss alternatives.

“It’s one of the first things you can do – it’s to become a well-educated person on this issue and then take some action,” co-founder of the High Desert Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center Dr. Jeff Cooney said Wednesday night at the meeting.

Those who attended the meeting watched a documentary on practices used by the department, listened to local wildlife professionals, and asked questions.

“I was hoping to hear more about both sides of the issue,” Kim Rachal of Bend said Wednesday night. “I have mixed emotions about the whole thing, but I was hoping to hear more details and pros and cons.”

In January, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife captured and later killed a cougar that had climbed a tree in a backyard in southeast Bend. Biologists said they did not relocate the animal, as many urged, because it had become habituated and likely would return to populated areas, posing a public safety danger.

“People wanted to speak out about this because they read about it, they saw it on the news, and it made them upset,” Wendy Smyth said.

The professionals provided a unique look at predators and big cats.

“I know it’s a problem with human interaction coming up against wildlife,” Rachal said. “It’s going to happen more and more, and it’s a difficult problem.”

The next meeting will be at the Downtown Bend Library at 6:30 p.m. on April 14.

The ODFW cougar management plan can be reviewed at this site.