Increased cougar sightings in Allen Co. (via Chad Arment)

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - There's growing concern that a cougar could be lurking around southwest Allen County. The DNR has gotten at least four reports of sightings in four different locations in that area.
Bob Girod is an eye witness to one of the sitings; he said he saw one in his own backyard after he heard his dog barking.

"All three of us went to the window and we looked out the kitchen window and right outside the window beneath the security light we saw a large cat. I'm estimating about 50 lbs. He had a long swooping tail and very characteristic ears and face."

Girod, who's a Fort Wayne police officer, reacted quickly. "I said 'gun.' My son grabbed a gun and racked a round into it and as he worked the action, the cat heard it and moved its head up toward the window and looked up at us."

Girod said the cougar then ran into the woods. He called the Department of Natural Resources, but officers there aren't as convinced that it was actually a mountain lion.

"In order for DNR to make a confirmation presence, we need to have some hard evidence: photos, tracks, scat, something like that, that our folks can look at," explained DNR Communications Director Phil Bloom.

Officials said there have been more than 200 reported sightings across Indiana in the past year. There's proof in fewer than 20 of the cases and only one has been confirmed in Greene County. The cougar there was captured by a trail camera.

Girod has put up his own camera in hopes of capturing an image of what he's already seen. There are no pictures yet, but he said he has all the proof he needs In the x-rays from when his dog McHale was attacked.

"He (the veterinarian) said he was not hit by a car, it was not a gunshot. He said they were puncture bites that looked like bite marks. Forensically speaking, it was his opinion it was a cat bite not a dog bite. The only cat he thought could possibly break a leg on a dog that size would be a cougar," recalled Girod.

DNR officials are still looking at the x-rays and encourage people to call if they see anything unusual.

"We're not saying that those reports are false or inaccurate," Bloom said. "We just need to have some hard evidence for one of our biologists to say, 'Yes, that is indeed a mountain lion."

The DNR said there have been reports in nearby states like Illinois, so it's not unreasonable to think the animals could migrate to Indiana. "Anything's possible. Particularly the young males will move out. There has been increased evidence of some movement out of the Dakotas into the surrounding states," said Bloom.

What should you do if you actually come across a cougar? Bloom had these tips:

• don't approach it
• don't run from it
• make eye contact