New Mercer Island Cougar Sighting, But It's Unconfirmed

MERCER ISLAND, WA — City police and state wildlife officials responded to a cougar sighting near Pioneer Park on Wednesday morning. They did not find any sign of the animal, which was first seen on Aug. 5.

The Aug. 21 sighting is one of six since the beginning of August — but only two of those sightings have been confirmed as real. Still, local officials don't know if the Mercer Island cougar is still in the city, or has wandered off to the mainland.

In this most recent sighting, a resident possibly saw a cougar's tail sticking out of landscaping south of Pioneer Park, according to city officials. State Department of Fish and Wildlife officers investigated on Wednesday afternoon, but didn't find any tracks or other signs.

You should call 911 to report any cougar sightings. The city has also set up a page on the Let's Talk website with information about the cougar's movements.