Fish & Feathers: The true story of a documented cougar attack

Published 12:27 pm Tuesday, October 4, 2016

While I was living in Enumclaw from 1975 to 1998 I met Washington Department Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officer Bruce Richards. In charge of the bear enforcement K-9 and since retired, Richards was tracking poachers in the Green Valley Game Area, an area rich in elk and deer.

In my files I found recently this letter forwarded by Richards:

Date of the attack Feb. 22, 2005, written by Curt Lokovset of South Prairie, Washington:

“On the morning of the attack, and make no mistake, this was an attack. Gary Erath and I were returning from our hike, approximately half a mile from the gate at Clay Creek. This road begins on the north side of Hwy. 410 15 miles of Enumclaw.

“This area was clear cut about five years ago and is so steep it is almost vertical. The ground is covered with vine maples, blackberries, young fir trees and lots of logging slash. The reason that I note this is because it points out the tenacious nature of the attack. The cat did not charge from across a golf green.

“While walking down the road my three large breed dogs (two Labs and one mixed breed) became interested in a culvert. The scent that got their attention, I’m convinced this was not a cougar. Their behavior was too relaxed compared to past encounters with bears. I walked to the end of the culvert that spilled into the countryside. Two of the dogs turned to leave the end of the culvert. Gary was beside me within arm’s reach. Two of the dogs were positioned in front of us with one dog behind, on the road.

“Suddenly from below us from about 25 yards there was an explosion as if a deer or elk had landed after a leap. I focused on the noise and saw a flash of brown coming toward us, and wondered why, what I assumed to be a deer, was running the wrong way. As the cat closed to within half the distance, I was able to identify it as a cougar. I started to bring my rifle to bear so as to remove my scope cover.

“All conscious thought stopped at this point as my hand went past the scope cover and the thumbed the hammer back while thrusting the rife forward as if poking it toward the cat. I pulled the trigger and instantly stopped/killed the cat, two feet from the muzzle.

“The cat had made it to within striking distance of the ass of one of the dogs but had not grabbed it. Gary faced the cat with his walking stick and stated at the instant the shot was fired, the cat was locked on his eyes, ignoring the dogs.

“Much luck was involved because normally I would have had a walking stick rather than a rifle. On this particular morning, I had packed the rifle to check its zero. It was not luck that I was armed! I always have a .44 magnum pistol and my walking stick is tipped with a bayonet. Paranoid? I prefer to use the term prepared.”

In view of the recent sightings locally I thought that this article would be of interest and wanted to share it with you.

Ron Malast can be reached at 665-3573 or raiders7777@centurylink.org.