The second sighting this week of a cougar prowling this usually safe, residential enclave has Mercer Island families clutching their children and dolla, dolla bills a little tighter tonight.
A surprising first sighting took place yesterday at Pioneer Park and many speculate it may have swam over the island from as far away as the Oregon Coast’s Cannon Beach.
“I heard something gruff outside panting and muttering ‘Hey, hey, honey,’” said Janet Roland, a married Mercer Island mother of two. “I don’t know what it was chasing after, but sure enough, when I checked the security footage it was a woman at least in her 40s crawling around in a nice set of Spanx.”
Though surprising for Mercer Island residents, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife said this sort of thing happens all the time in water-bound communities.
“A lot of people don’t know this, but cougs are known to swim pretty long distances — from the looks of it, this one likely came from Suite in Bellevue,” said Fish & Wildlife spokesman Derrick Wilkerson. “It’s probably not long until it hits Seattle’s Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, so keep an eye out and if you see something, say something.”
