News - Off Beat Stories
Wildlife officials capture cougar in park
Posted: Sep 6, 2009 9:50 AM by Associated Press
Updated: Sep 6, 2009 9:50 AM
Wildlife officials in Washington state say they've captured a cougar that's been prowling through Seattle and had forced the closure of the city's largest park.
Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesman Darren Friedel says the cougar was immobilized with a tranquilizer and captured in Discovery Park at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Friedel says an enforcement officer tracked the animal after authorities were told the cougar had been spotted Saturday evening, the latest sighting in or near the 534-acre preserve northwest of the city's downtown.
Capt. Bill Hebner says the cougar is a 2 1/2-year-old male, weighs 140 pounds and is in very good health. He says officials are considering releasing it into the wild in Snohomish County, north of Seattle.
As Seen On News 5
