Thanks to a reader for forwarding this email from the University of Maryland Department of Public Safety:

CAMPUS ALERT

July 31, 2008

There have been several reliable sightings of an animal fitting the description of a cougar on the campus. The description of the sighted cat is: light tan and tawny brown, about 4 feet long with a 4 foot tail, and weighing about 50 pounds. Several sightings have been reported from the area of Cole Field House, near the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, and continuing through the wooded areas to the area of the
Comcast Center and Arena Drive Garage. There has been no report of aggressive behavior on the part of the animal, but community members are warned that cougars are a predatory species and that, if seen, the animal should not be approached.

If you see the animal, please contact the university police at 301-405-3555. University police are working with other agencies to remove the animal from the campus area.

Prepared by:

Captain John Brandt
Crime Prevention Unit
jbrandt@umpd.umd.edu

City Desk has more, adding that campus police have yet to spot the cougar themselves, and should it turn out to be true, this would be the first cougar menace recorded at the university. Unless, of course, you count the other kind of cougar. Surely some of those have been known to prowl around Terp territory.