BEND, OR -- Bend Police shot and killed a cougar they say was a danger to the public, Wednesday evening. First reports of the big cat came in that morning. At about 10:15, officers responded to a cougar sighting in the area of NW Third Street and Portland Avenue. Upon arrival, community service officers found a deer kill site in the backyard of a nearby home and warned neighbors of the cougar. Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife responded to remove the deer, posted signs warning of a cougar in the area, and determined the cougar was a risk to public safety.

At 8:20 p.m., Bend Police responded to a second cougar sighting in the area. In this instance, the reporting party said they’d been driving and almost hit the cougar as it was crossing NW Saginaw Avenue. Dispatch received another call reporting the cougar in the area, which was heavily populated. When officers responded, multiple people were walking dogs in the area. Officers located the cougar about 6 feet off the road in the 500 block of NW Roanoke Ave. The cougar was exhibiting behaviors consistent with being a public safety risk, including showing no fear of humans in extremely close proximity, hunting in a heavily populated area and returning to the kill site.

ODFW advised earlier in the day that if the cougar returned and continued to display these behaviors, Bend Police should dispatch the animal. After setting up a containment area and ensuring the location was safe, officers shot and killed the cougar. ODFW took possession of the cougar. 

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