Local News

150-Pound Cougar Shot Dead On North Side

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Residents on the city's North Side let out a sigh of relief Monday evening after a wandering cougar was shot and killed in Roscoe Village.

There have been several sightings of a big cat in the past couple of days.

As CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli reports, the cougar, also known as a mountain lion, population is estimated to be about 50,000 strong in America. And though there are no mountains around for miles, that didn't stop this cougar from making its way into the city.

The fully grown cougar shot in an alley in the 3400 block of North Hoyne Avenue weighed about 150 pounds and was five feet long, not including its tail, according to Mark Rosenthal of Animal Care and Control.

The cat leapt a fence and ran into a gangway between two houses. Police were on the other side of the fence, firing shots the entire time.

Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weiss defended the police officer's actions in using force.

"The police officer exercised sound judgment in eliminating a dangerous threat to a community and to small children in making a split second decision to discharge his weapon after the cougar charged at the officer," Weiss said in a statement. "There's no doubt that lives were saved as a result of his actions and his fellow officers' attempts to contain the animal away from innocent bystanders."

Frank Hirschmann saw the cougar and said he received the fright of his life.

"I seen a mountain lion jump a six-foot fence like it was nothing right by my house," he said.

Mountain lions are the fourth heaviest cats in the world. Since 1990 they've been linked to the deaths of 10 people, so police weren't taking any chances when they swarmed the block around 5:30 p.m. Monday.

"The police pulled up and asked us all, pretty heatedly, to get our kids and our animals in the house," said area resident Tracy Welsh.

A short while later Welsh and her children saw the cougar dart across the street.

"It was surreal, and we were thrilled to be inside the house and safe," Welsh said.

"There was a lot of kids on the block. Kids were out, people were out running, people were walking their dogs, and (police) said, 'Just quick, quick, get all the dogs in," said witness Ed McCarthy.

Animal Control received the first report of a cougar sighting early Monday morning, but their officers armed with tranquilizer guns never saw it. When police finally spotted the animal this evening, the tranquilizers had been replaced with bullets.

"It's a shame to lose such a beautiful animal, but it had to be done," McCarthy said.

Residents said it sounded like a Wild West gun battle, and there is still concern about gunfire in such a compact area. Police say they were acting in the name of public safety.

Authorities say the animal's body will be checked for any markings, chips or tags that would show if it is owned by anyone.

Authorities in suburban Wilmette say they received several calls on Sunday reporting alleged cougar sightings. Police searched, but did not locate the animal.

Experts say and they do not believe it was the same cat killed Monday evening.

There are no established cougar populations east of the Mississippi River.

CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli, Joanie Lum and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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