NEWS: Cougar sightings near Fancher Heights area

Cougar sightings near Fancher Heights area
Jaime Adame, World staff writer
Posted May 05, 2007

EAST WENATCHEE -- Two cougar sightings within about a week in a non-residential area near Fancher Heights have led state Fish and Wildlife officers to ask nearby residents to use "common sense" to avoid a cougar encounter.

Officer Graham Grant said Friday that about six days ago, a cougar was seen at about 1 a.m. along the new detour road leading to Fancher Heights, a residential area northeast of East Wenatchee.

Then another cougar sighting was reported at about 9 p.m. Thursday, Grant said.

"Both were observed by headlights from a vehicle," Grant said, adding that the sightings were about a half-mile from any homes, along the "far north S-turns" of the detour road.

"We'd hope that these critters … would just be using it as a travel corridor," said Grant. He said an officer planned on checking the area with a tracking dog Friday night. A Washington State Patrol dispatcher who contacted wildlife officers Saturday morning said they have not yet located a cougar in the area.

Grant said residents should keep pets close and indoors at night or in a secure kennel.

Care should be taken to avoid leaving garbage out with an odor that could attract smaller animals -- which, in turn, might attract cougars, Grant said.

Parents should also "probably have the kids come in at dusk just as a cautious thought," Grant said. "Most wild animals are active at dusk and at dawn."

World staff writer K.C. Mehaffey contributed to this report.