Oregonians have reported troubling sightings of cougars near their communities, but wildlife officials say it’s a positive sign for the cat’s population.
According to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife , Oregon is home to over 6,000 cougars . But it hasn’t always been that way. In the 1960s, only 200 cougars remained. The population had dwindled because of bounty hunting.
Now that the population is 30 times greater, people are encountering the large cats close to home. According to The Travel , at least three recent sightings of cougars have been recorded in human-inhabited areas. Two sightings were near the Beaverton area, and another one was around Foothill Drive in Cedar Hills…