News: Medford (Cougar Sighting - 2018)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surname: Walter

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 11/01/2018

DNR confirms sighting of cougar near Taylor County airport on Monday night.

A cougar sigting was confirmed near the Taylor County Airport Monday night.

According to Scott Walter, a large carnivore specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), a motorist traveling along the road near the airport spotted what looked like a large animal laying against the fence. Others also stopped to check out the animal.

After noting that it appeared to be a cougar, they contacted the Taylor County Sheriff’s Department. According to Walter, the concern was that the animal had been struck by a vehicle and the people on the scene were trying to figure out what to do.

The DNR was contacted and the decision was made to move people away from the animal to see what would happen. Deputies moved people back about 100 yards and after a period of time, the cougar got up from where it had been resting in the tall grass and walked away.

Officials urge caution when approaching any animal along the roadway that appears to be injured. Walter said the cougar spotted in Taylor County is likely many miles away at this point.