And here is a news article about that cougar being hit near the freeway. For those unfamiliar with the Twin Cities, this intersection is between two multi-lane interstate freeways and is not at all remote. It is in the middle of major shopping areas. Also interesting general MN cougar info in the article:
https://www.twincities.com/2020/09/...struck-near-freeways-in-bloomington-dnr-says/
But as secretive a cougars are, there have been more than a few reports of cougars in that area over the years.
https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2019/08/21/possible-cougar-sighting-in-bloomington/
https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2019/08/30/police-warn-of-possible-cougar-in-eden-prairie/
(Eden Prairie is just west of Bloomington.)
And finally there is this:
https://www.cougarnet.org/sites/original/umw-desc/Cougar posed threat to public, Bloomington police say.htm
The above article mentions 10 sightings in just the 3 years leading up to the one that was shot in 2002. Most articles talk about "no breeding population" in MN, but the one shot was a female. And the things just keep showing up year after year, so draw your own conclusions...
But there isn't really much of a mystery as to why so many sightings in the southern Twin Cities area - it is just north of the Minnesota River Valley much of which is in the National Wildlife Refuge system. Much of it is remote and there are lots of deer and other critters for cougar feed.
