Parents of schoolchildren at Snoqualmie Elementary School were warned Thursday afternoon, Sept. 10, of a cougar sighted between Meadowbrook Farm and Centennial Fields in Snoqualmie.

The city of Snoqualmie’s Parks & Recreation Department notified the school district at about 3 p.m. of the cougar sighting, which happened around noon. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife was also notified.

At the school, staff provided extra protection where the school borders Centennial Fields while students boarded buses. The Snoqualmie Valley School District’s transportation department was also alerted and confirmed that no elementary students walk home in the direction of the sighting.

Meadowbrook Farm is located adjacent to Centennial Fields Park at 39903 SE Park Street. It is across the street from Three Forks Off-Leash Dog Park. Children and pets should be closely supervised in these high-traffic areas, the district warns.

Anyone who sees or encounters a cougar is asked to report it to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife at 1-877-933-9847.

More information regarding cougars and what to do if you encounter one is available on the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website at http://wdfw.wa.gov (“Living with Cougars”).