A false alarm in Oregon has led to city-wide warnings about a potential cougar on the loose.
On Thursday, the animal was spotted at Cook Park in Tigard, Ore. The person who spotted the creature believed it could be a cougar – also known as a mountain lion. The city’s Department of Public Works shared the news in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) and urged residents to “be aware of your surroundings and leash your dogs.”
The next day, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) denied the sighting after being told about it by Tigard’s Department of Public Works.
“That ‘cougar’ spotted yesterday at Cook Park in Tigard? Turns out it was a house cat,” ODFW wrote in a post after they retweeted a similar fake report from Mississippi in 2017, where a house cat was replaced with a cougar. “This happens more than you think.”
In another release, the agency elaborated on how officers distinguished a cougar from a house cat when they analyzed blurry footage of a suspicious cougar in Cook Park taken by a resident.
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“The video is grainy, but the #1 indicator is its size compared to wood and compost/garbage,” reads the following tweet. “Also, the fence is probably 6 feet tall, which means the cat is less than 1 foot tall.”
ODFW added that the “color” of the animal is another sign that it is not a cougar.
“Not a real tan and more like an orange house cat,” read a third post. “You’d be surprised how often other animals (dogs, domestic cats, coyotes, bobcats) are reported as cougar sightings.”
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In light of ODFW’s announcement that the animal was not a cougar, Tigard’s Department of Public Works responded, describing the update as “great news.”
It also stated that the city “had confirmed sightings [of cougars] in the past,” but “luckily, this time, it wasn’t one.”
“It’s better to be careful and aware, and our community’s vigilance is greatly appreciated. Thanks @MyODFW for your help!”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education