Reports that a cougar has been seen near the University of Maryland made the state Department of Natural Resources search the College Park for the dangerous animal.

The cougar, also known as puma, mountain lion or panther is a mammal native to the Americas. It is a large and solitary cat and has the greatest range of any wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere. The cougar could be found from Yukon in Canada to the Andes of South America.

It generally is an adaptable and is found in every major New World habitat type. The second heaviest cat after the jaguar, and the fourth heaviest in the world, along with the leopard after the tiger, lion and jaguar, could be very dangerous if it feels threatened.

The large cat was seen at about 6 a.m. near the boulevard next to the University. By afternoon, several witnesses have seen the big cat but they weren’t able to capture any image. Still, they could describe it as a light tan and tawny brown, nearly four feet long, with a 4-foot tail, which might weigh 50 pounds.

Officials stated that cougars haven’t been seen in this area since 1800 and no zoo has reported missing cats. Still, it is forbidden to keep a cougar or any dangerous animal in Maryland.

The cougar could also be seen near Cole Field House and the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Although it hasn’t shown any aggressive signs toward the people, it shouldn’t be approached. Officials are concerned about the danger the animal represents and they hardly try to catch it.