Apex predator spotted in Washington for the first time since 2024. ‘Jaws drop’
An apex predator was spotted strolling along a Washington wildlife crossing for the first time in over a year, transportation officials said.
The Washington State Department of Transportation shared video of the sighting on its social media accounts June 3, saying the clip made their “jaws drop.”
“First cougar sighting of 2025! This one was spotted heading south to north at 4:45 a.m. on May 28 via the Unnamed Creek MP 60.9 bridges at I-90 Snoqualmie Pass East,” the department said on Instagram. “This is our first cougar detection since Jan. 26, 2024 — which was at Price Creek! Exciting stuff!”
Video shows the cougar crossing underneath a bridge among logs and grass, the department said in the post. It was captured using monochrome night vision technology, which makes the mountain lion appear blinding white against varying gray or chrome hues of the background.
“That looks like a big one,” someone said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“We had FIVE confirmed cougar sightings in 2023 and one in 2020,” the department said. “Happy travels, big cat!”
This story was originally published June 6, 2025 at 1:08 PM with the headline "Apex predator spotted in Washington for the first time since 2024. ‘Jaws drop’."
