Learning to live with cougars in rural Oregon

LA GRANDE – If you live in Northeast Oregon, odds are that you live in cougar country.

Continuing development in rural Oregon has resulted in people moving into areas inhabited by wildlife, including cougars. Like any large predator, cougars can be dangerous but generally try to avoid humans.

The presence of resident cougars in northeast Oregon has increased sharply over the last few years, resulting in conflicts between cougars and humans whose livestock and pets have been attacked.

In winter elk and deer move down from the mountains to their historic winter range on the human-populated valley floor. Severe winters like this one can result in larger than usual numbers of deer and elk congregating at lower elevations. Concentrations of prey (elk and deer) will attract cougars. Cougars will also prey on smaller animals such as raccoons and occasionally domestic livestock and pets.

People living or recreating in areas with cougar populations can minimize potential problems through an understanding of cougars and their habitat. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) brochures “Living with Wildlife: Mountain Lion and Oregon is Cougar Country” provide valuable information about ways humans can co-exist with cougars and some common-sense guidelines that can keep people, their pets and neighborhoods safe.

Some of the guidelines are:

? Be aware of any wildlife corridors or places where deer or elk concentrate around your property.

? Be more cautious at dawn and dusk when cougars are most active.

? Do not feed any wildlife and don’t leave food or garbage outside. By attracting other wildlife you may attract a cougar. Use animal-proof garbage cans if necessary.

? Keep pets indoors at dawn and dusk. Shelter them for the night. Feed them indoors.

? If going out at dusk or dawn, be aware of your surroundings. Install outside lighting and remove heavy brush from near your house and any play areas.

To obtain copies of these publications, contact an ODFW office. Information is also available on-line at (www.dfw.state.or.us).

Cougar Management in OregonThe Oregon State Legislature and the Fish and Wildlife Commission recently provided ODFW with an additional tool to manage cougars and black bears.

With the passage of HB 2971 in 2007, the Legislature clarified that ODFW may appoint private individuals with special skills and/or trained hounds to act as agents on behalf of the department and pursue cougars and bears with dogs in some situations. Agents could be used to address specific cougar conflict situations, capture cougar for specific research or management activities.

Agents are required to undergo background checks to establish they have no recent convictions for violating wildlife, animal welfare or other laws; attend a training session where a code of conduct, specific area boundaries and timing of activities is reviewed; and sign an agreement with the agency indicating rules are understood and will be followed.

Anyone who has trained hounds and is interested in becoming an agent should contact a local ODFW office.