Cougar reluctant to leave trap after being released

By Associated Press Published: May 24, 2012 at 11:27 AM PDT Last Updated: May 24, 2012 at 12:31 PM PDT
Cougar reluctant to leave trap after being released
An approximately 2-year-old female cougar leaves a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife trap northeast of Arlington, Wash., Wednesday, May 23, 2012. (AP Photo/The Daily Herald, Mark Mulligan)

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) - Washington wildlife agents were ready to release a captured cougar back into the wild northeast of Arlington, Wash., but it didn't want to go.

They banged on the back of the cage, poked the cougar with a pole and tilted the cage and tried to slide her out, but she wouldn't budge.

The Daily Herald reports a puff of pepper spray finally drove the cougar into the woods.

Wildlife Officer Dave Jones fired bean-bag rounds to teach the young cougar to stay away from people. It had been trapped for wandering too close to homes.

Wildlife officers estimated the 100-pound cat was about two years old - about the age when cougars are left by their mothers and have to find their own way.