Cougar sightings reported near schools

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife was alerted after two reports that a big cat, possibly a cougar, had been sighted in the Cathlamet area in the last two weeks.

According to Wahkiakum County Sheriff Mark Howie, two weeks ago in the early morning someone reported seeing a large cat coming out of the drive near the sewage treatment plant. It crossed SR 4 to school grounds. A week later, someone else reported seeing a large cat by the large tree on the school campus.

Superintendent Brent Freeman has notified WDFW, who arrived with cameras. They have been set up in hopes of confirming the existence of the cat.

While Freeman waits for confirmation, the school district will be clearing more brush around the campus and doing what they can to make it more uninhabitable for the alleged animal, just in case.

“Fish and Wildlife is on top of,” Howie assured me, “and the sheriff’s office is doing patrols in the morning around the school, not just for traffic enforcement but for spottings too.”