Oregon Public Broadcasting

A feisty Chihuahua chased a cougar out of a Philomath yard earlier this week.  As Pete Springer reports, it’s the third cougar sighting in the area in the past year.

Chiquita the Chihuahua and Rosie the border terrier charged the cougar after it jumped a backyard fence.

The mountain lion pinned Rosie down but Chiquita kept barking incessantly at the big cat until it jumped out of the yard and ran off.

The house is next to a wooded area where Philomath police have posted cougar warning signs.

Roger Furhman is with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.  He says cougars will generally run away when they encounter humans, but people shouldn't count on a dog to scare a big cat away.

Roger Furhman: “Maintain eye contact with a cougar.  Don’t turn your back on it.  Pick up any kids that are in the area, bring your animals, your dog, if you have a dog, get your dog back to you and get it out of the area and then just slowly back away.”

Furhman says wildlife officials are most concerned about human safety when it comes to cougars.   In this case, it does not appear humans were threatened by the mountain lion.

Authorities estimate about 5000 cougars live in Oregon.