A dog is recovering after a terrifying encounter with a cougar in Washington’s Olympic National Forest. Lucas Rogers, along with his wife and their dog Arlo, were hiking along the Duckabush River Trail on Friday, April 26, when the incident occurred.
Rogers had leashed Arlo to a tree as they prepared to sleep, unaware that danger was lurking nearby. The dog started barking and whining, but Rogers initially dismissed it. However, his wife’s panicked screams quickly alerted him to the situation. When Rogers rushed back to the scene, he was shocked to find the cougar pinning Arlo to the ground.
In a surge of adrenaline, Rogers acted without hesitation. “I just, in a fit of adrenaline, anxiety, I don’t know really what took over,” he explained. He kicked the cougar in the back of its head with all his strength. The cougar, startled, ran off, and the attack ended within about 30 seconds.
Arlo suffered multiple wounds to his neck, head, and body, while the cougar, estimated to weigh 65-80 pounds, was about twice the size of the dog. Despite the severity of the attack, Rogers described Arlo as being “tough” and said the dog was already recovering, appearing more energetic and “chipper” in the days following the incident.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has responded by posting additional warning signs along the trail. Although cougar attacks are rare, with only two fatal human incidents and about 20 injuries recorded in the past century in Washington state, the agency is taking precautions to ensure the safety of hikers and pets in the area.
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