A cougar who likely swam to the island from the Kitsap Peninsula has been spotted at least four times in the last two weeks.

While these sightings have caused alarm for some, experts say they expect the animal will not cause any harm to humans and will likely leave on its own volition within a few weeks.

Deer make up the “overwhelming majority” of cougar’s diets in this area — potentially good news for Vashon — said Brian Kertson, a carnivore research scientist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

“This cat is probably going to do gardens and front fenders a favor,” he joked.

More seriously, he said that the likelihood of any islander seeing the animal, much less having any kind of aggressive encounter with it, is extremely small.

“I wouldn’t even give it a second thought,” he said.

However, both he and other wildlife experts, including Bianca Perla of the Vashon Nature Center, encourage islanders to pay attention to their surroundings and know what to do in case they encounter the cougar.

“I would not be afraid, but be aware that it is out there,” Perla said.

If an encounter occurs, Kertson said, people should stop, stand tall, make themselves as big as possible and make eye contact with the animal.

“These animals do a very good job of coexisting with people,” he added. “They are not the blood thirsty killers they have been made out to be.”

As of Monday afternoon, the most recently reported encounter with the cougar occurred that morning.

Perla said a woman who had been camping at Maury Island Regional Marine Park called her to report that she had come across a cougar at about 7 a.m. She had been walking on the gravel road that leads from the park to 244th St. SW, when the cougar crossed the road in front of her. The woman reported that she picked up a large stick, and the animal did not react. She then started yelling at it, and it took a few steps toward her, though not aggressively. She was near a corner, Perla said, and started walking backward around it and out of view. The animal did not follow her.

This report follows multiple other sightings since July 26, including on Van Olinda Road, in the Paradise Cove area and on SW 156th Street, where a man saw a cougar chasing a deer through his yard.

WDFW’s Kerston said he believes that the animal is likely a young male, from 1 to 3 years old, out seeking his own range for the first time. He noted it is not unusual for cougars to swim fairly sizeable distances.

Kerston’s WDFW colleague Kim Chandler noted that while they do not consider these sightings a public safety concern, they do want people to call the agency and report sightings. In the event the cougar kills livestock, however, livestock owners should call 911; they would be routed to the state patrol, and WDFW would be notified and would come to the island. To help keep livestock safe, Kerston suggested removing brush from near fence lines, as cougars are stalking predators and do not like to be out in the open. Cougar fencing is not practical, he added, as it would need to be 15 feet tall. But he added he is not anticipating large problems while the cougar is roaming the island.

“Given the number of deer on Vashon, I don’t think this animal will have a hard time finding its typical prey,” he said.

While the deer on Vashon might keep the animal here for a time, Kerston said he believes the animal will leave fairly soon in part because it will want to mate. Additionally, Vashon is under 40 square miles, which is smaller than the typical cougar range, which is 150 to 175 square miles for males and 65 square miles for females.

Chandler, who said islanders have a much higher chance of being bitten by a neighbor’s dog or stung by hornets than of being attacked by the cougar, did offer a piece of in the event of a cougar encounter.

“Keep your cameras ready,” he said. “Count your lucky stars that you got to see a cougar. Many people don’t.”

The number for the WDFW area office is 425-775-1311. For more information on living with cougars, see wdfw.wa.gov.