Deschutes Co. deputies shoot, kill cougar after pet attacks

Three reported cougar attacks on dogs and cats in La Pine over the past week led to the fatal shooting of a cougar under a home’s deck early Saturday by Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies.

The first report was in the area of Coyote Road, where someone advised their dog had been attacked by a cougar, confirmed by deputies who went to the scene, said Sgt. Jayson Janes.

A trapper was contacted through the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Janes said.

The second report was on Pine Forest Drive regarding a cougar on the resident’s front porch. Janes said the resident was calling their cat to come inside when the owner spotted the cougar on their front porch with the dead cat.

Around 12:25 a.m. Saturday, deputies got another report, this time on Glenwood Drive, of a cougar attacking a dog, Janes said. The resident said he believed the cougar was under his deck.

Deputies responded to the scene, located the cougar under the deck and “ultimately shot the cougar due to the danger it posed to the community,” Janes said in a news release.

The sergeant noted, “There are numerous houses in this neighborhood, which is located less than one-quarter of a mile from a day care and approximately one mile from Rosland Elementary School.”

Other area residents had reported to NewsChannel 21 in recent days that a female adult cougar and two juveniles had been spotted in the La Pine area.

Oregon State Police assisted in the investigation, Janes added.