Acougar sightings along the Willamette River at Minto-Brown Island Park have been verified by Salem officials.
After several unverified sightings in the region, the sighting on Sunday occurred sometime before 7 p.m. A park employee who was cleaning up trash near the Willamette reported another possible sighting on Thursday.
Because cougars are most active at dawn and twilight, park managers are warning visitors to exercise caution.
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City officials installed cameras in areas where deer are quite active and where people have reported seeing cougars, according to Matthew Johnston, Salem’s parks field supervisor. They then put up banners in the area to remind people to pay attention to their surroundings.
And we’re still keeping an eye on it,” Johnston added.
The 1,200-acre Minto-Brown Island area has a 30-acre off-leash dog area and 29 miles of trails. It is bigger than Central Park in New York City and is one of Salem’s most well-liked parks. With so many deer and other prey, Minto-Brown is also a cougar’s natural habitat.
According to the news release, city authorities are keeping a close eye on the situation while consulting with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The city reminds visitors that most sightings have taken place after dark, when the park is closed. Additionally, visitors are asked to keep their pets on leashes, with the exception of off-leash zones.
ODFW advises being composed and making eye contact with a cougar. If you have kids, don’t bend over or turn your back when picking them up. Avoid running and back away from the animal slowly. If a cougar starts acting aggressively, raise your arms and clap to appear bigger. Use sticks, pebbles, or anything else you can find to defend yourself in the event of an attack.
The South Willamette Watershed District office of ODFW can be contacted at 541-757-4186 for reports of cougar sightings in Minto-Brown Island Park. Call 911 in an emergency if someone’s life is at jeopardy.
Although no one has been hurt by the cougar, Johnston advised people to exercise caution.
According to Johnston, the cougar isn’t acting aggressively at the moment. We are still keeping an eye on it, but it is living its finest life, just like you would expect a mountain lion to. I do advocate for folks to use the buddy system, be alert, stay on paths, and keep dogs on leashes.
Multimedia reporter Tyler Brown works for The Oregonian/OregonLive, where he covers breaking news. He can be contacted at 503-221-8243 or [email protected].
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