Cougar Sightings Spark Concern in Minneapolis

A motorist struck and killed a cougar on Interstate 394 near Highway 100 in Golden Valley, Minnesota. The incident occurred days after a cougar was spotted in the Lowry Hill neighborhood of Minneapolis. Conservation officials believe the cougar may have traveled from the Western Dakotas or Northwestern Nebraska, as there is no established population of the animal in Minnesota. Cougars are rarely seen in the state, with only 77 verified sightings since 2004. If encountering a cougar, individuals are advised to make themselves appear larger and speak loudly and firmly to scare them off, without shooting the animal as they are a protected species.