Another Possible Cougar Sighting On Mercer Island

MERCER ISLAND, WA -- Neighbors may have spotted another cougar on Mercer Island, this time near 89th Avenue and Southeast 47th Street. The person who reported the latest sighting to police said they were out walking the dog on Tuesday morning when they saw a cougar, 20 yards away, relaxing in the sun near the trail bollards. The animal then walked east toward a nearby yard.

The caller described it as "brownish" in color, weighing about 50 pounds and a two-foot tail. Officers who checked out the area were unable to confirm for certain if the animal seen was, in fact, a cougar.

Back in August, a cougar was captured on surveillance prowling near Pioneer Park. The next day, a security camera caught the animal along the 7000 block of 94th Avenue Southeast. In the months since, the city has maintained a rolling list of updates tracking every report on the island. Police are working in tandem with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife to follow up on all tips. WDFW presented a report to the Mercer Island City Council on September 3rd. The last confirmed sighting was August 6th.

REPORTED SIGHTINGS

AUGUST 5 - 6400 block of E. Mercer Way (Confirmed)

AUGUST 6 - 7000 block of 94th Ave. SE (Confirmed)

AUGUST 9 - 5400 block of Island Crest Way

AUGUST 9 - 6100 block of 86th Ave. SE

AUGUST 12 - 7600 block of W. Mercer Way

AUGUST 21 - SE 74th Pl.

SEPTEMBER 1 - 3600 block of 84th Ave. SE

SEPTEMBER 2 - Island Crest Way & 72nd Pl.

OCTOBER 1 - 89th Ave. SE & SE 47th St.

COUGAR SAFETY TIPS FROM WDFW