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Cougars provide morning thrill for Goldendale woman
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CopyA Goldendale woman got an early morning surprise last Tuesday. When Diana Notestine went to investigate the sound of a bird outside, there was not a bird in sight, but instead, to her amazement, was a full size cougar snooping around in her garden.
The cougar, acting similar to a small kitten, saw a colorful whirleygig in the garden, which was not moving at the time. The cougar came close enough to the yard decoration to where the touch of the cougar's nose initiated the motion of the whirleygig, which made the cougar jump back in a playful attitude. Wanting to share her news and get a picture, Notestine started looking for her camera and cell phone. As she was doing this, she noticed a second full size cougar up on the hill and then a third. She managed to get a less than perfect photo of one of the cats who was staring at her. Notestine talked with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife spokesperson, Sue Van Leuven.
She said that cougars are nomadic and curious creatures that cover a huge territory. Her hunch is that the cats would not come around again.
A cougar's main prey is the white-tailed deer or elk, but they are known to eat smaller animals such as porcupines, squirrels, mice, raccoons, rabbits and beavers. They are more active at night, being a nocturnal animal, although Notestine saw them at 6:15 in the morning when it was very light.
Van Leuven does not know how many cougars there are in the area, but Notestine can verify there are at least three.
Copyright 2009 The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.
© 2009 The Goldendale Sentinel Goldendale, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.
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