Washington sheriff takes lead in pursuing cougar

A Central Washington sheriff has sworn in hound handlers to pursue cougars and black bears, saying he expects his office to be quicker and more aggressive in responding to dangerous animals than the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer said he's heard increasing concerns from ranchers and others about predators. Since the sheriff took charge of chasing predators last last month, a cougar seen in a field with cattle was chased and euthanized, a livestock-protection measure Songer said he doubts Fish and Wildlife would have taken. "We don't have to wait for a killing," he said. "I feel very strongly that prevention is better than waiting for something to happen." Fish and Wildlife's chief law enforcement officer, Steve Bear, said he understands the sheriff has a duty to protect the public. He cautioned, however, against using hounds too freely. In the Pacific Northwest, people expect tolerance toward wildlife, he said. "Generally, if a cougar has not killed livestock, we do not euthanize the animal," Bear said. "If we ran dogs every time we got a report about a cougar around livestock, the public would take us to task, rightfully so." Using dogs to hunt cougars is banned in Washington, but wildlife managers can summon hound handlers to track and dispatch problem cougars. Previously, the Klickitat County Sheriff's Office relied on Fish and Wildlife to do that. State law, however, also gives sheriffs authority to use dogs to remove cougars, black bears, bobcats or lynx to protect livestock, pets, property or people. A rancher recently brought that to his attention, Songer said. "Otherwise, I would have launched this project much sooner," he said. "My intent is to maintain a good working relationship with the wildlife department. However, the sheriff's office, under this program, will be in charge. "I feel very strongly that this program will benefit public safety, and certainly be a big help to farmers and ranchers, and people who have domestic pets."...MORE