Bend Police received reports of a cougar sighting in a southwest Bend neighborhood both Thursday and Friday, August 17 and 18.

According to Lt. Ken Mannix, Bend Police and agents from the United States Department of Agriculture responded to the area of SW Pelton and McKinley Avenue on both days, and while they performed an extensive search they were unable to locate the animal.

Cougars are tawny-colored with black-tipped ears and tail. The large cats can run as fast as over 40 miles per hour, jump 20 feet from a standing position, and vertically leap eight feet.  Adult males in North America may be more than eight feet long from nose to tail, and weigh an average of 150 pounds.  Their bite strength is more powerful than that of any domestic dog.

According to Wikipedia, attacks on humans are rare, but do occur -- especially as humans encroach on wildlands and impact the availability of the cougar's traditional prey. There were around 100 cougar attacks on humans in the United States and Canada during the period from 1890 to January 2004, with 16 fatalities.

Anyone who observes a cougar should immediately contact the 911 Dispatch center at 693-6911, said Lt. Mannix.

A cougar was reportedly seen in this southwest Bend neighborhood, near SW Pelton Pl. and McKinley Avenue.