Multiple cougar sightings in Silverton last week raised alarm bells and even led to the closure of The Oregon Garden.
In response, wildlife officials trapped and euthanized a subadult cougar Sunday morning.
A second adult cougar also was seen in town, but officials aren’t planning to trap or euthanize that animal at present.
“The cougar was euthanized because it was considered a public safety risk,” Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman Michelle Dennehy said. "That basically means they've killed livestock, pets or have been seen repeatedly in broad daylight.
"Cougars are normally afraid of people, and if they're not, that indicates something isn't right."
The second cougar hasn't yet met that criteria, but Dennehy said anyone with additional sightings should contact police.
Cougars are becoming a more common sight in towns such as Silverton, which are close to a forested area and food, such as deer, Dennehy said.
Oregon’s cougar population has rebounded from a low of around 200 animals in the late 1960s to more than 6,000 today.
That’s led to more situations such as the one that occurred last Wednesday at The Oregon Garden. Tamara Swanson was walking through the wetlands area of the garden when she came across the subadult cougar, officials said.
Swanson told KOIN news that she yelled at the cougar and it fled. Officials closed the garden Thursday while they tried to capture the animal, but were unsuccessful.
In late February, the same animal attacked and killed a deer in a Silverton resident’s backyard. The cougar later returned to the deer carcass.
Over the weekend, officials put a baited trap in the same area and captured the cougar overnight Sunday.
When asked how she felt about how the situation was resolved and euthanizing the cougar, Swanson said:
“I am saddened to hear that any of these beautiful animals would need to be euthanized, but I do understand the need to protect the people, children and other animals in Silverton," Swanson said. "I would rather there be practices in place for relocation over euthanization.”
A subadult cougar is described as having adult characteristics but is not yet sexually mature.
Encounters between people and cougars are rare; there has never been a confirmed attack by a wild cougar on a person in Oregon, Dennehy said.
“Seeing more cougars is part of a larger trend, especially in northwest Oregon, but people don’t need to be alarmed,” Dennehy said. “Just consider keeping pets indoors at night. If you do encounter a cougar, make yourself look big and don’t run away from it.”
Cougars were hunted to almost extinction in Oregon until 1957, when they were reclassified as a game animal. Hunting cougars is still allowed, but it’s more restricted and there’s a closely monitored bag limit.
In 1994, Oregon voters outlawed hunting cougars with dogs.
“Their numbers have continued to grow at a steady clip,” Dennehy said. Around one cougar has been euthanized in the Silverton area each year since 2015.
Residents should call the Silverton Police Department Dispatch Center at (503) 982-2340 or Oregon State Police at (503) 731-3030 if they see a cougar in town.
Zach Urness has been an outdoors writer, photographer and videographer in Oregon for 10 years. He is the author of the book “Hiking Southern Oregon” and can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on Twitter at @ZachsORoutdoors.