Jim's Katahdin Sheep Poulsbo / Kingston Washington

01/11/2026

Today we had two lambs born. That gives us 6 sheep in total, just like before our cougar (mountain lion) issue.

06/14/2024

03/04/2024

Born today, Mar 3, 2024. Katahdin hair sheep.

07/16/2023

I suspect this cougar killed 5 of my 8 sheep! I am sure grateful they got him.

A wise person commented - "Unfortunately relocation was not an option for this cougar. He started killing for sport and leaving the animals. Once they figure that out, they won't stop. They have a huge traveling radius and this particular cougar has killed countless farm animals since April.

He is a beautiful animal, he weighs about 180lbs and they are going to taxidermy him and use them for educational purposes.

Although it’s heartbreaking to see such a majestic animal put down, it would not have been done unless absolutely necessary." (I edited this comment some to make it clearer.)

Thanks to Fish and Wildlife for resolving these farm animal killings.

04/20/2023

Question - I have lost 3 ewes and two lambs to in 3 separate attacks from what I believe to be a mountain lion/cougar. My katahdin ram has his fir pealed back on top of his neck showing a patch of skin. The ram is also shedding and rubbing his hair off. Does this bare patch of occur occasionally or is it likely from the cougar? I am trying to lock the remaining 3 sheep up every night. (I could use a caretaker for the remaining 3 sheep for six months or so until the cougar gets caught or shot. The cougar is creating havoc in the neighborhood. The Fish and Game department has been unsuccessful in resolving the problem.)

04/12/2023

A cougar has killed half my flock. (Most current activity at top.)

April 11, 2023 - A police Officers from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife observed a large bear entering the trap last night from the camera that they set up. On trap inspection this morning, the dead sheep carcass had been drug from the back of the 10-foot-deep trap and the locking trap door was tripped but the bear was not locked in. They thought the bear was so long that the trap door likely hit the bear on the rump keeping the door from latching. With the bear in the area, they figure the cougar has moved on. They disassembled the trap and loaded it in their trailer by noon.

We lost 4 sheep and now have 4 remaining, three being under 4 months old. I am unsure how to proceed with the sheep other than locking them in at night.

The Fish and Wildlife Police were all great to work with! Really helpful and ambitious. They actually would like to hear where any cougars are sighted by calling either WDFW Dispatch line at 360-902-2936, or 911 non-emergency line 360-308-5400.

April 8, 2023 - noticed another ewe sheep was missing from the flock. I found the ewe under the electric fence in the SE corner of the pasture. I got hold of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife today and they sent out officer Murry. He believes the attack was from a cougar also and will set up a cage trap tonight on the creek side of the pasture. He plans to have a Stealth Camera also that will call him if the cougar comes back tonight. Officer Murry mentioned that two llamas were killed by a cougar in Big Valley recently. If the cougar comes back and does not get trapped, they may bring out dogs to find the cougar knowing the tracks are fresh.

Mar 4, 2023 - A one year old ewe disappeared from the electric fence pasture. There was no evidence except, I suppose, a cedar fence broke off at ground level and was leaning however the fence was still hot.

Another 1-year-old ewe was hurt and while still standing, hung its head low for 3-days and then died. Another 3-month-old lamb sat in the field with head up for 2-days and then died, after the attack. Both had punctures on their head from what I thought might be a bite.

On Jan 26, 2023 I have a picture of a cougar that was observed on my neighbor's stealth camera in the woods 100-feet from Gamble Creek and 100-feet from the corner of the sheep’s eclectic fence.

I think that cougar likely killed the ewe and dragged it into the woods. The cougar also bit the heads of the lamb and the other ewe causing eventually their deaths.

I now have 3 remaining lambs, a ram and an ewe.

I looked at a incident map and saw at least two incidents that may relate.
Incident: C23030217 2023-03-22
Incident C23020132 2023-02-17

Not a fun thing for sure.
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03/13/2023

The two little's closest to the camera are ram-lambs. (For Emily Knutson)

01/19/2023

Twin lambs were born today. We noticed one ewe missing from the flock this morning and sure enough she had twins.

07/04/2022

Available to sell or trade is a ram lamb ram born March 9, 2022. his mother is small, and he appears to be heading to normal size. He was born black and but is now brown on the way to white maybe? I also have a Ram that was born likely in 2019 he was reported to be an unregistered full Katahdin. He is super friendly which makes me wonder if he was bottle raised. I would like to get some new line into my flock of six, 3 Ewes. We reside between Kingston and Poulsbo in Kitsap County.