Cougar!!

[dheltzel]

I would be alarmed too, but remember that cougars don't "hunt" people (bears don't either). That doesn't make an attack impossible, but very, very unlikely. It is far more dangerous, statistically, to ride in a car, than to encounter a cougar in your yard. That's not factoring the "heart attack" factor.

As for your pets, controlling the predators is one avenue, but I would focus on predator-proofing their housing. That is the only sure way to keep them safe and let you sleep well at night. Predators are smart and they can get frustrated, enough frustration trying to penetrate your coop will send them elsewhere and that is the best for everyone, including the predator.

A large cat in town is likely looking for territory and can't get prime real estate because it is weak in some way (young or old, probably). The bad news is they will get habituated to people and encounters are more likely, the good news is their presence should cut way back on the coon/possum/skunk/fox/etc population. Cougars are apex predators and all the other predators are at great risk of becoming dinner themselves. If all the (remaining) predators are on high alert because they fear for their lives, your chickens might actually be safer with a cougar patrolling the neighbourhood.

 

[aart]

My 13 year old went out to close the coop at midnight last night. The chickens were in bed already. I was at work so not sure why it was so late. He saw something crouching by the coop staring at him. It got up and ran past him right towards town! I live right in downtown in a very small town. We are surrounded by farmland on the other Side. He said it was about 45 lbs and tan and had a cat face. Sounded like a small cougar! I showed hi
Pictures of everything else it could be. It only could have been a cougar! Do I report it? Should I worry it will come back?

I bet one good thing will come of this, your son won't wait until way after dark to close up the coop

I would report it, might learn whether it had been seen before or if there has been an uptick of the animals in the area.

 

[subhanalah]

When faced with a mountain lion aka cougar aka puma, do not run. Stand facing it and make yourself get as big and intimidating looking/sounding as you can. Look it in the eyes.
If it's a bear, do NOT look it in the eye unless you want to be eaten.
Just stating that different predators hunt different ways and thus have different deterrent triggers.