Third cougar put down as mild winter shifts hunting season

LEAVENWORTH, Wash. (AP) — Washington state Fish and Wildlife officers killed a cougar that tangled with a pet dog near Leavenworth.

A bear and cougar specialist for the agency, Rich Beausoleil, tells KPQ the dog had attacked the cougar — not the other way around. The dog was treated for injuries and is expected to recover.

He says the cougar killing on Monday night was the third time this winter that a cougar has been put down.

The wildlife officer says the mild winter has had an impact on deer that cougars hunt. He also expects the mild winter to bring bears out of hibernation about a month earlier than usual.