Hunter kills cougar believed to have been killing pets
Published 3:47 am Friday, October 17, 2014
Dave Sharpe hunted and killed this female cougar believed to be responsible for killing pets in the Westlake area north of Oroville. Sharpe, who used dogs to tree the big cat on Krugar Mountain, was hired by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. He is seen here in David and Naomi Alloway’s yard where there dog was killed by a cougar in August. Photo by David Alloway
OROVILLE – Dave Sharpe shot a cougar on Krugar Mountain last week. The big cat is believed to be the same one that has been hunting and killing pets in the Westlake area.
Sharpe was hired to hunt the nuisance cougar by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. Sightings of the cougar led to warnings sent out by the Oroville School District about parents watching their children in the area north of Oroville near Lake Osoyoos.
“I went out on Aug. 31 about 1:30 p.m. and saw a female cougar on top of our dog, who was about 10 pounds. The cat took off with our dead dog in his mouth,” said David Alloway, adding that only the dog’s skull and collar have been found.
According to Alloway, Sharpe used dogs to tree the cougar on Krugar Mountain and that the hunter said he also has seen signs of another, younger, cougar in the area.
“We’re really glad… our grandkids are with us full time and we’ve seen the cougar as close as eight feet from the sandbox. Naomi has been packing a pistol every time she goes out. We haven’t been able to let the kids play outside because of our concerns,” Alloway said.
Link to Alloway Videos: Cougar in Yard
About Gary DeVon
Gary DeVon is the managing editor of the Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune and celebrated his 25th year at the newspaper in August 2012. He graduated from Gonzaga University with a degree in Communications - Print Journalism, with an emphasis in photojournalism. He is a proud alumnus of Oroville High School. His family first settled in Okanogan County in the late 1800s. His parents are Judy DeVon and the late Larry DeVon and he has two younger brothers - Dante and Michael. Many family members still call Oroville home. He has a grown daughter, Segornae Douglas and a young granddaughter, Erin.
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