Several recent cougar sightings on the Sunshine Coast have prompted local conservation officers to offer safety reminders to the public.
According to conservation officer Murray Smith a young cougar was spotted in the Davis Bay area, on Monday, Jan 16.
Smith said the cougar was observed twice in a yard bordering Chapman Creek ravine and posed no safety risk to the public, based on discussion with a member of the public. The cougar was described as approximately 40 pounds and still possessed the remnants of kitten spots.
"Considering that the spots were nearly gone, and that kitten spots disappear by six months of age, the cougar observed on this date is believed to be between five and six months old," said Smith. "No adult cougar was observed associated to this report. The conservation officer service's decision was to allow the juvenile cougar to return to nearby Chapman Creek ravine in hopes of returning to the wilderness."
A second report was received on Jan. 19 of young cougar peering in the window of a home in Davis Bay.
"Sunshine Coast RCMP attended immediately to this report and the home owner advised that a single, very small cougar, had just departed the residence and was looking through their patio doors at the homeowner's housecat," said Smith. "The RCMP confirmed there were only one set of smaller sized tracks in the snow at the residence."
Smith said it is his believe that the first two reports in the Davis Bay area were associated to the same juvenile cougar.
"There is no indication that a mother cougar is associated to either of these sightings," he said. "Considering the age of the juvenile cougar, and the fact that juvenile's stay with their mother for one year before separating, it is believed this young cougar is operating alone. Due to its young age, the human safety risk associated to the presence of the juvenile in the community, is very low.
"However, the public should be diligent in monitoring young children and pets. The conservation officer service will continue to monitor the situation and respond as future reports occur."
A third reported sighting occurred the morning of Jan. 23 where a cougar was up a tree across the street from Cedar Grove Elementary School in Gibsons.
RCMP attended to that complaint on Monday.
"A member of the public observed a large, adult cougar jump down from a tree and proceed in a direction away from the school," said Smith. "Both the RCMP and conservation officer service were in discussion with school officials, which resulted in the school children being kept inside for part of the day as well as cougar safety information being provided to the school community. No further reports have been received on the whereabouts of the cougar in the area of the school, to date.
"Community members are advised to continually monitor children and pets, as well as try to have children stay in groups when out of doors. While outside, the public should make noise while active near forested areas and if confronted by a cougar: pick up children, raise arms above head, make aggressive noise while backing away, and do not turn your back or run."
Smith added that in the past 12 months the Coast has received 97 cougar reports and one cougar has been destroyed.
