Cougar Scratches Man at St. Paul’s Como Zoo

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - St. Paul police say a 23-year-old man climbed a guardrail at Como Zoo and was scratched by a cougar.

Police were called to the zoo Thursday afternoon. Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Paulos says an officer was told a man climbed the fence near the cougar exhibit and climbed out a minute later with bloody hands.

Zoo spokesman Matt Reinartz says the Minneapolis man had a superficial scratch. Reinartz says the man denied leaping onto the railing and reached through the mesh barriers.

No zoo staff saw what happened. Police cited the man for disturbing zoo animals.