MINNEAPOLIS — Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in... to Minneapolis' Lowry Hill neighborhood.
Robyn Bruggeman posted a video of her neighbor's home surveillance footage to the Uptown neighborhood's Nextdoor page, showing what appears to be a cougar walking across a driveway early Monday morning. In response to the sighting, Bruggeman said "all appropriate authorities have been notified."
In a comment to KARE 11, Bruggeman said, "On one hand it’s kind of cool! It’s a beautiful animal. On the other hand it’s kind of scary."
She added she'll keep a closer eye on her surroundings before letting her dog outside.
"Knowing it’s around kind of makes us look around before we let our dog in the backyard," she said.
The Minneapolis Animal Care and Control, along with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued a warning about the cougar, advising people in the area to "pay increased attention when outside." City officials added they believe the big cat could be traveling along the Cedar Lake Trail system near Lake of the Isles, as it was also seen near Kenwood Park.
In an emailed statement to KARE 11, the DNR acknowledged the larger-than-the-average-alley cat is "on our radar," and called the sighting "rare."
The state said it's difficult to track the exact number of cougars in Minnesota because of their "highly secretive nature and tendency to wander," but said the latest data indicates there's "no evidence" to suggest the big cat species "has a self-sustaining, breeding population" in Minnesota.
If you do encounter a cougar in the wild, the DNR offers these tips:
- Face the animal directly
- Make yourself appear large by holding your arms above your head, waving a hat or jacket
- Talk loudly and firmly
- Throw rocks or sticks at the animal to chase it away
- Do not shoot the animal, even if livestock or pets are threatened. Cougars are a protected species and may only be killed by a licensed peace officer or authorized permit holder.
- Report the encounter or sighting to a conservation officer or local law enforcement authorities as soon as possible
If attacked:
- Hit the animal in the face and head with whatever object is readily at hand
- Don't run, crouch or lay down
- Try and stay above the animal and give it a clear escape route
In an effort to monitor the number of verified cougar sightings in Minnesota, the DNR has an interactive map for public viewing here.
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