Local man kills
cougar south of
Heppner Hill
Bess,e Wetze» Newspaper Library
University of Oregon
^
Eugene, OR 97403
5(K
Gary Waddell with a young cougar shot south of Heppner.
VOL. 132
NO. 14 8 Pages
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Garden Club reorganizes,
meeting set for Saturday
Big cat sightings on the increase
By Patty Nance
Cougar sightings south
of Heppner are getting to be
more common according
to area hunter Gary Wad
dell who says the big cats
have been spotted at Ruggs
junction and on Heppner
Hill. Wadell killed a young
cougar in a steep canyon
on the Haguewood Ranch
on March 16. “My son saw
them.” he said. “They were
in the brush so I went in
after them.” Wadell took
one cat.
The cougar is one of
three to come out o f the
The long established Heppner Garden Club recently disbanded due to lack of membership Rhea Creek and Sanford
as did the Blue Mountain Master Gardeners. A group of local citizens are creating a new Canyon areas.
A ccording to Steve
opportunity for volunteers to continue some of their projects.
Cherry, Wildlife Biologist
for the Oregon Dept, of
Fish and Wildlife, two of
T h e r e is a n e w recognized the continued public areas like flowers
the three were a “decent
opportunity for volunteers need for projects that these in the m ini-park and at
and citizens of all ages to two Clubs were responsible Heritage Plaza.
get involved in ‘hands on’ for. They have formed an
Yard o f the M onth
community activities.
informal group, Willow r e c o g n itio n is b e in g
How to Identify
Following
t h e Creek Gardeners, with a co n tin u ed under other
Adults o f both sexes
n a tio n w id e tre n d o f more casual approach; no sp o n so rsh ip as is the
dw indling m em bership, state or national board to popular Christmas wreath have long black tipped tails
and black coloration on the
som e lo c al civ ic and report to and meetings only and greens project.
s e r v i c e c l u b s h a v e as needed.
For more information backs of their ears. Adult
disbanded including the
Some of the projects or to ex p ress in terest, males may exceed eight
Heppner Garden Club and on the to -be-continued please contact one of above feet in length, from nose to
Blue M ountain M aster list are the flower show at mentioned people. There the end of their very long
Gardeners. John Murray, the Morrow County Fair; w ill be a m e etin g on tail, and weigh between
Jo A nn B u rle so n , Ed the com m unity garden, Saturday at Heppner City 130 and 170 pounds. Adult
females can be seven feet
Struthers and Kay Proctor decorating and maintaining Hall at 9 a m.
long and weigh between
75 and 105 pounds. Kittens
or cubs are covered with
blackish brown spots and
have dark rings around their
tails. The markings fade as
they mature.
For a fifteenth year, walkers on another day, to 460 N Gale Street. The
Habitat
walk will start at 10 a.m.
Heppner will host the East raise funds that way.
The best eastern Or
There is no registra and a brunch and raffle
ern Oregon Multiple Scle
rosis (MS) Walk on April tion fee for the MS Walk. will follow after the walk. egon habitat is the open
20. Pre-registration is ap However, participants are The well-marked 5K route mixed conifer type of the
preciated but walk-ons are encouraged to raise $100 is wheelchair accessible. A Blue and Wallowa moun
tains, including the pine’
bunch grass and canyon
country of northeastern Or
egon. All of these habitats
are productive deer and elk
areas.. Most locations used
by mountain lions during
the day are characterized
by rock outcroppings or
downed logs in forests.
Cover is important to moun
tain lions for bedding -sites
and when hunting prey.
Cougars have also been
Participants getting ready during the 2012 Eastern Oregon Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Walk.
found living in ditches and
per
person
to
help
sup
welcomed. Pre-register on
marked 10K walk is also
the web at www.walkM- port our continuing fight available. There will be 5K
Soregon.com, call 503-445- against MS. Walkers can and 10K route maps avail
8342 or register the day of earn prizes for outstanding able the day of the walk. MS
fundraising, starting with Walk posters, with registra
the event.
a
T-shirt prize at the $100 tion information, will be
If you are unable to
attend the day of the sched level. If you bring $ 100 the located in local businesses.
uled walk, you can still help day of the walk, you will If you have any questions,
the cause by registering as be eligible for a T-shirt that you can also contact Hep
a Virtual Walker by walk day, while supplies last.
pner MS Walk Co-Chairs,
Registration and check Merilee McDowell, 541 -
ing on your lunch break,
walking to and from work in begins at 9 a.m. at All 571-5853 or Barb Orwick.
or walking with a group of Saint's Episcopal Church, 541-256-0455
Willow Creek Gardeners are all local
size”. “Young cougars live
with their mother until they
are one year to 18 months
old,” Cherry said. “Then
the mom kicks them out
and they have to find new
territory.”
Cherry said the pres
ence o f cougars in these
areas is not unusual. “Since
1994, there has been an
expansion o f the cougar
population into more open
country,” he said. In 1994,
use of dogs to hunt cougars
was banned by the Oregon
Legislature.
According to Cherry,
every year since the ban,
there have been multiple
concepts brought forward
to repeal the laws and none
have passed. Consequently
the big cat population con
tinued to flourish.
Cherry said that 53 cats
were taken over a three year
period between from 2006-
2009 during an administra
tive removal program. “It
worked,” he said. “Before
the removal, an average of
15 (elk) calves to each 100
cows survived and since,
there are 30 calves for each
100 cows.”
Cherry said the elk
population has rebounded
dramatically.
The big cats taken by
the department were do
nated to schools, univer
sities and museums for
educational purposes.
Most of the estimated
4,000 cougars in Oregon
live and roam in forested
areas, Cherry explained.
Mountain Lion Facts
Heppner hosts fifteenth
East Oregon MS Walk
>
Cougar and dog paw prints are very different.
culverts in subdivisions.
with humans and urban ar
eas. Because their mobility
makes it possible for the
animal to travel many miles
away within only a few
hours, it can be difficult to
track their movements.
Reproduction
Females begin to bear
young when they are about
two and one-half years old.
Breeding may take place
throughout the year, but
most females give birth
Foraging for Food
between April and July.
M ountain lions are
The three-month pregnancy very powerful and nor
results in a litter of two to mally kill large animals
three young.
such as deer, elk and
bighorn sheep for food.
Territory
However, they can sur
A mountain lion can vive on smaller animals such
occupy a large territory, as raccoons, and occasion
depending on habitat and ally kill domestic livestock
how much prey is available. and pets. They usually hunt
An adult male’s territory at night and prefer to am
can exceed 150-200 square bush prey from behind and
miles and usually includes kill with a powerful bite.
the territory of several fe
T hey kill may be
males. An adult female's covered with leaves or
territory can cover up to 65 snow. Mountain lions may
square miles. Their ability come back to these car
to cover such an expanse casses over several days.
may bring them into contact