SAVAGE, Minn. – A cougar found dead on a road near Savage Tuesday had been hit a car and killed, police confirmed. The cougar, a male, perhaps 140 pounds, was hit near an intersection on the south bank of the Minnesota River across from the Valley Fair amusement park. Apparently it was the same cougar that had been spotted roaming south suburban neighborhoods for a couple days. While cougars are rare in southern Minnesota, they sometimes wander through along the Minnesota River. None believed to to lair permanently in the area. . In 20 years only 60 sightings beeen verified in ghe sate , none as far south as Wabasha or Winona counties.
Road kill. Near Highway 13 and County Road 101. Image: Savage police
No, not a fox. Andrew Pastrana, 18, of Shakopee, was driving homer from Dairy Queen and thought he spotted a coyote. He stopped and took a pictute. Later at home, looking at he image,je realized it was a cougar. This probably is the same animal that was struck by a car and killed the next evening a few miles away in Savage. Image: Andrew Pastrana
If you meet a cougar
Cougars, also known as pumas and mountain lions, stalk deer and smaller animals like rabbit and squirrel. Occasionally they go after go after farm livestock or pets. Rarely do they attack humans. Even so, it has happened. Here’s what the state wildlife agency recommends if confronted: “Make yourself appear large by holding your arms above your head and waving a hat or jacket, talking loudly and firmly and throwing rocks or sticks at the animal to chase it away. If actually attacked, hit the animal in the face and head with anything handy. Don’t run, crouch or lay down. Try and stay above the animal and give the animal a clear escape route.”