Orphaned Kittens in Washington Result in a Decade of Nationwide Cougar Education

Between 2002 and 2012, 26 orphan cougar cubs have been reported to WDFW, capture by staff, and placed with facilities accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) throughout the country. In addition to over 15 million visitors per year at these facilities, innumerable television and newsprint media stories have recovered the capture, transport, and arrival of these animals; reaching out to countless millions more people. This has not only resulted in education programs of the highest quality benefiting people who may never have the chance to see these animals in the wild, but has also brought prominent national attention to WDFW. These captures were a collaboration of WDFW wildlife biologists and officers statewide.