Two cougar sightings in a month reported in urban Vancouver neighbourhood – BC
Residents of a Vancouver neighbourhood are on the lookout for a cougar after two sightings in a month.
The BC Conservation Officer Service says in a statement that the big cat was reported on Dec. 26 around Blenheim Street between 26th and 36th Avenues in the Dunbar area.
It’s far from wilderness areas but close to Pacific Spirit Regional Park, which is bounded by busy neighbourhoods and the Georgia Strait.
The statement says a witness was driving when they saw the animal and it did not exhibit any “threatening or aggressive behaviour.”
Conservation officers also said a cat was spotted in early December on a trail near St. George’s School on the edge of Pacific Spirit Park.
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Warning posters were then put up in the neighbourhood.
A December 2023 review of cougar management in B.C. says the species is prevalent across southern parts of the province, and the Lower Mainland has an estimated population of up to 650, although their primary range stops short of Metro Vancouver.
Cougar populations are estimated to reach 1,100 and beyond in areas such as Vancouver Island, the Thompsons, Kootenays or Cariboo regions.
Cougars are good swimmers and earlier this year, a sighting on Bowen Island prompted its municipal government to warn residents.
In June, Canada rugby sevens captain Olivia Apps suffered minor injuries when she was attacked by a cougar in Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island.
The B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says cougars occasionally pass through urban settings but are “generally very secretive,” and residents should be cautious about letting dogs and cats outdoors, especially at night.
The SPCA also says that people should stay calm, maintain eye contact and make loud noises to dissuade an attack if they encounter a cougar.
-with files from Amy Judd
© 2024 The Canadian Press
