SHELTON, Wash. — A cougar is blamed for vanishing pets in a South Sound neighborhood and an attack on a man’s prized mule just outside of Shelton.
Ed Hefliger said his 25-year-old mule, Maudie, had bloody scratches on her Monday morning, and he and a state fish and wildlife officer believe she was attacked by a cougar.
“I could see the claw patterns. I could see the cuts to the hair and could see where the cat took a shot at her,” said Hefliger. “(But) I think she got a chunk of the cat.”
Maudie was out in a pasture when she was attacked, and the wildlife officer thinks the cougar is young.
“A younger cat, a smaller cat that maybe jumped on something bigger than he or she should have,” said wildlife Officer Duanne Makoviney.
Maudie has scratch marks on her hind quarters and legs but will be fine.
The wildlife officer learned neighbors’ pets have also been disappearing in recent weeks.
A specialized dog team was brought in to track the cougar Monday afternoon but was not able to find the cat, which is now causing serious concern.
“There are a lot of residences around here. A lot of kids, a lot of safety issues to think about,” said Makoviney.
Because the cat has attacked wildlife and possibly killed pets in the area, it will be put down if it can be located.
KIRO
