By Steve Hubrecht
There have been several cougar sightings in recent weeks in the Columbia Valley, but local wildlife officials say this is typical in winter, and there is no risk to people.
Columbia-Kootenay Conservation Officer Sgt. Greg Kruger told the Pioneer there have been confirmed cougar sightings near the Village of Radium Hot Springs, near the District of Invermere, and up on Toby Benches.
“We haven’t had any major public safety issues,” said Kruger, adding that what they’ve seen so far is “normal cougar activity for this time of year.”
As the winter goes on, most prey species move down to lower elevations, (if those species haven’t already done so earlier in the year) putting them in closer proximity to towns and villages. The predators, including cougars, follow behind the prey, and they too are close to towns.
The only mildly abnormal cougar encounter reported to conservation officers recently was on Toby Benches three weeks ago when a cougar chased a domestic dog. Eventually the cougar was scared off. Conservation officers monitored the area for a time, but the predator was not see again.
Other than that “there’s been nothing out of the ordinary and the cougars are doing what they normally do,” said Kruger.
Any public safety issue or wildlife reports for cougars or any other species should be reported to the Conservation Officer Service by calling the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hot line at 1-877- 952-7277.
