11:34 AM PDT on Wednesday, May 5, 2004

By ANTONIA GIEDWOYN, kgw.com Staff

VANCOUVER -- A cougar jumped out of the bushes in a Washington state park and attacked a woman's horse while she was horseback riding, she told authorities.

A cougar looks down from its perch in a tree. (File Photo)

The woman, who didn’t want her name released, said the attack happened at Battle Ground Lake State Park on Tuesday.

The woman told authorities she fell off the horse as it galloped for about a quarter of a mile before the cougar let go of the horse’s neck. The woman is alright. The horse suffered scratches on its neck but no punctures, according to Oregon State Police wildlife officer Captain Schlenker.

Authorities with OSP who responded to the woman’s call said they took it seriously. Trained dogs were brought in to try to pick up the cougar’s scent, but they weren’t successful, Schlenker said.

“Attacks are fairly rare. Cougars tend to avoid people,” Schlenker said.

Park manager Jim presser said this was the first report of a cougar sighting in the area in more than a decade.

A park ranger will be on site Wednesday as a precaution, park officials said. The park was closed for three hours on Tuesday following the incident.

(AP also contributed to this article.)