Ashland Police & State Agencies Lethally Removed Cougar from Neighborhood
The Ashland Police Department and two state agencies were forced to lethally remove a cougar that had wandered into a residential area of that city yesterday.
On Thursday at 1:15 p.m., Ashland police officers responded to the 700-block of Glendale Avenue for a report of an aggressive cougar.
After speaking with residents, it was determined that an adult cougar had attacked at least one domesticated animal -- a cat -- while the cat was under the control of its owner. Upon checking the area, officers found evidence of other wild animals having been attacked and consumed as well.
APD requested the assistance of the Oregon State Police Fish & Game Division and the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife. Both agencies responded to assist and -- upon conferring -- everyone agreed that the cougar was well beyond the statutory threshold calling for the lethal removal of the animal.
APD, OSP and ODFW searched for the animal, locating it at about 2:45 p.m. in a residential yard in the same area. The cougar was lethally removed and the carcass was turned over to ODFW for examination.
APD Chief Tighe O'Meara said an elementary school in the immediate area was asked to keep everyone inside during the incident. He said APD never seeks to be put in the position of lethally removing a wild animal. But given the circumstances, this course of action was clearly the most prudent to safeguard human lives.
Posted on 4/19/24 6:40AM by Sam Marsh
