A cougar sighting on Oregon's iconic Haystack Rock over the weekend led to a temporary closure of Cannon Beach. The large cat, likely searching for birds, was spotted on the rock formation Sunday morning, prompting a multi-agency response involving local and state police, wildlife officials, and parks and recreation personnel. The beach closure was implemented as a safety precaution for both visitors and the cougar, allowing the animal to return to its natural habitat.

Confirmation of the cougar's departure came from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A game camera captured its exit from Haystack Rock on Sunday night, and tracks were also observed leading away from the area. State biologists believe the cougar likely ventured onto the rock during low tide on Saturday night to hunt birds, an unusual behavior not previously observed at this location.

While coastal forests serve as prime cougar habitat, their presence on Haystack Rock is uncommon. Cougars typically prey on deer, but also consume elk, other mammals, and birds. Although unusual in Oregon, similar instances of cougars traveling to small offshore islands have been documented in Washington state's Olympic Peninsula.

Haystack Rock, a protected area within the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is a haven for seabirds and marine life during the summer months. From March to September, various bird species, including tufted puffins, common murres, pigeon guillemots, and black oystercatchers, nest and raise their young on the rock. A section of Haystack Rock remains off-limits to the public year-round to safeguard nesting and roosting birds.