In an unusual development, the world-famous Haystack Rock was closed by the Cannon Beach Police after a wild cougar was spotted in Oregon near the shoreline at Cannon Beach on Sunday. Cougar sighting is said to be rare in the region, however, the 'mountain lion' was recently spotted which created panic in the area forcing the officials to issue a warning to people and urging them residents to stay away from the beach. As per reports, Cougar was first observed on Haystack Rock before 8:00 a.m. Police reported that the cougar was still in the same location at 12:45 p.m. Now, Cougar spotting images are going viral on social media. In the viral images, the Cougar can be seen roaming in the mountains. Haystack Rock, a basalt sea stack, is over 230 feet tall. It is located in the Pacific Ocean close to the shoreline.
The officials in their statement said, "There is still an adult mountain Lion on Haystack Rock. Personnel from Cannon Beach Police Department, Oregon State Police Game Troopers, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State Parks, Haystack Rock Awareness Program, and Cannon Beach Fire are on scene working to ensure public safety and the welfare of the animal. The beach between Haystack Rock and the dunes is closed to allow the cougar an area to escape to, from off the rock.We ask for your help and patience as we work through this unique situation.." As of now, the local police are being assisted by Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State Parks, Haystack Rock Awareness Program, and the Cannon Beach Fire Department. Currently, the investigation is going on and the authorities are yet to confirm whether the mountain lion has moved somewhere safe or into habitat or not.
The cougar also known as the puma or mountain lion is a large cat native to the Americas. Its range spans from the Canadian Yukon to the southern Andes in South America. It is the most widely distributed large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. It is an adaptable, generalist species occurring in most American habitat types. It prefers habitats with dense underbrush and rocky areas for stalking but also lives in open areas.
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