Drug, Stress Killed Cougar Lack Of Habitat Also Contributed, Officials Say

A combination of stress and tranquilizers likely killed a cougar that wandered onto Spokane’s South Hill last week, officials said Tuesday.

But lack of habitat also contributed to the big cat’s death, they said.

The young male caused a stir Friday morning when it padded around Manito Park before climbing a tree near Tekoa Street and 26th Avenue.

The animal awed residents for nearly an hour before state wildlife officials and a veterinarian shot it with a tranquilizer dart and carted it away.

Later that day, wildlife agents released the woozy cougar near Hunters Pass in Stevens County. It apparently died shortly thereafter.

No antidote was given to the cat because he appeared to be coming around, said Luther McConnell, the veterinarian who tranquilized the animal.

Plus, additional drugs might have put even more stress on the animal’s system, said McConnell, who expressed disappointment at the cat’s demise.

Agents discovered the animal’s body when they went back to check on it that evening.

McConnell said the animal probably died of “a stress-related interaction with the drug.”

Tranquilizing animals in the wild isn’t an exact science, said McConnell, who had to guess the cat’s age and weight from 45 feet away in order to prepare a proper dose of medicine.

In addition, officials didn’t know other factors that might have contributed to problems, like the animal’s general health and diet, he said.

Capt. Mike Whorton of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said the cat’s chance of survival was slim even if the drugs hadn’t killed it.

“It likely would have been cannibalized by a mature Tom,” Whorton said. “All the available habitat is currently taken. That’s why he ended up in the city in the first place.”

Whorton added that the vast majority of the department’s rescue efforts have happy endings. He cited the successful relocation of several moose that made their way into the urban area last winter.

“We lost this one,” he said. “This is reality. It’s not ‘Wild Kingdom.”’

, DataTimes