Cougar Sighting Causes Stir at Pasco Construction Site

On Wednesday, October 11th, 2025, photos of a cougar standing on a piece of construction equipment in Pasco, Washington began circulating on social media. The sighting occurred at the Columbia Shores development, a future site for houses and townhomes.

The news spread quickly, but by early evening, it appeared the photos may have been an AI hoax created by a construction worker. Department of Fish and Wildlife officials visited the site but could not confirm the cougar sighting.

Salina Savage, a local resident, received a text message on Monday night from a construction worker who claimed to have seen the cougar and sent her photos as a warning. Savage said she's accustomed to "crazy critters" on her property, including a large buck deer that wandered onto her back porch at the end of July.

While cougars have been spotted in the Tri-Cities region, particularly in the spring, biologists say the mountain lions are likely just passing through the area, following natural corridors like rivers. The increased development in the region has given cougars fewer places to hide.

Authorities advise residents to report any cougar sightings and to take precautions if they encounter one, such as not running and trying to appear larger. The incident has raised concerns about wildlife and development in the Pasco community.