The island’s cougar and coyotes have recently attacked more livestock, with all the injured animals expected to live.
Last week, Kevin Brintnall recounted how on July 1, he woke in the early morning hours to find the cougar attacking his pet pig. He chased the cougar off by charging at it with a baseball bat, but last Wednesday night or early Thursday morning, the large cat came back and attacked his pony. That animal, which he said weighs about 600 pounds, is recovering after having been slashed several times and bolting through an electric fence to get away.
The Washington Depart-ment of Fish &Wildlife (WDFW) sent a wildlife officer to Brintnall’s property — off Monument Road — that evening and confirmed the injuries were consistent with a cougar attack, according to Kim Chandler, the WDFW spokesman.
On Friday on Cove Road, Herb and Karen Beck discovered their miniature donkeys had been attacked the night before, both with slashes on their flanks and the female with bite marks by her neck. The male suffered the most serious injuries, Karen Beck said, noting that she intended to call the vet to have him return and provide additional care. Initially, that incident was attributed to the cougar, but a WDFW wildlife officer visited the Becks on Monday, and Karen said afterward that he believes coyotes injured the animals based on the location and extent of their injuries.
Following his visit, Karen said she believes coyotes are on the island to stay.
“We have to do a better job of taking care of our livestock, that’s all,” she said.
As for the cougar, Chandler said that the agency is not taking any action to remove the large cat, but will continue to monitor its movement.
“It’s really important to get updated sightings to us as soon as they occur,” he said.
Brintnall noted he has many deer on his land the cougar could have eaten, but instead it went after his enclosed animals.
“I think this thing is capable of doing something a normal cougar wouldn’t, and that is what worries me,” he said.
He added he does not want the cougar killed, but removed to a more rural environment.
After these latest incidents, Vashon Nature Center’s Bianca Perla posted an update online regarding the cougar. She noted that Vashon Nature Center leaders have profound empathy for the wounded animals’ owners, but because predators can swim here, future predators are likely, even if the cougar is removed.
She added that the center is working on a livestock management guide that will be released next month.
More information about living with the cougar, including Perla’s update, is available on the center’s website.
“Living with wildlife is possible here,” she wrote. “Please help us spread the word, share suggestions, have conversations and give neighbors a helping hand if they request it.”
— Susan Riemer
