The Stevens County Sheriff's Office and Kalispel Tribe biologist, Bart George, have teamed up to focus on cougar conservation to ensure the safety of both human life and wildlife in the region.

Photo byLeah HuygheonUnsplash

Deputy Jeff Flood and Bart George are conducting studies on humane cougar captures as part of their conservation efforts. Their goal is to capture cougars near populated areas and use hounds to instil fear in the animals, in order to prevent the killing of cougars that pose a threat to livestock or public safety.

By hazing the captured cats once they are released back into the wild, the team hopes to re-establish a healthy fear of humans, dogs, and populated areas among the cougars.

Bart George expressed the bittersweet feeling of removing the collar from their last study cat, highlighting the dedication of the team and the thousands of hours committed to collecting cougar behavioral data throughout Northeast Washington. The data collected will be passed on to partners for analysis and eventual publication.

What Are Your Thoughts?

• What do you think about the efforts of the Stevens County Sheriff's Office and Kalispel Tribe biologist in cougar conservation?
• Do you believe that capturing and hazing cougars near populated areas is an effective way to prevent conflicts with humans and livestock?
• How important do you think it is to conserve cougar populations in Washington state?

Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!