BRIDAL VEIL, Ore. — Angel's Rest Trail, a popular hiking destination in the Columbia River Gorge, is temporarily closed after the U.S. Forest Service received reports that a cougar stalked a person on the trail on June 11.
The cougar has not been spotted since the initial interaction with the cougar on June 11, but the forest service, Oregon State Parks and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) elected to temporarily close Angel's Rest Trail, as well as the surrounding hiking trails.
Signs posted at the trailhead warn hikers of the cougar sighting. This is the first encounter between a hiker and a cougar in the gorge this month.
On June 6, the Skamania County Communications Center received a call from a hiker on the Cook Hill Loop, reporting that they had seen a cougar. The hiker said the cougar was lying down near the trail watching him. The man was able to distance himself from the cougar until Washington Fish and Wildlife arrived. The hiker was not injured.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is investigating the encounter.
"The trail runner encountered this cougar, and it actually attempted to take a swipe at the runner with its paw," said Beith Quillian from ODFW. The cougar then followed the runner for about a quarter of a mile.
Quillian said that this type of encounter is rare, as cougars are "generally elusive and normally don't want to be around people, but wildlife can be unpredictable."
Cougars themselves, however, are not rare in the area, according to Ralph Bloemers, the director of Green Oregon. He has photographed the gorge and its wildlife for past seven years, with his most recent cougar sighting only a month ago.
"There are cougars and deer and elk and bears ... and we're going into their home," Bloemers said.
What to do in a cougar encounter
The U.S. Forest Service advises that when the trails do open back up to follow these safety tips: Hike in groups, stay alert at all times, keep dogs on leashes and carry bear spray or an air horn.
If you do encounter a mountain lion on a trail, the U.S. Forest Service advises that you do the following:
- Do not run.
- Make eye contact with the animal.
- Appear large by raising arms.
- Do not bend over.
- Make loud noises by shouting, waving and throwing objects.
For additional information, please contact Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at 971-673-6000.
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