VIDEO: ‘We’ve had multiple calls:’ young cougar strolls through Nanaimo’s Rocky Point area

“It appears to be what we would call a dispersing sub-adult, around 18 to 20 months old trying to find their own way in the world,” Bates said. “There was a report it actually killed a house cat which would be typical prey for a young cougar.”

He theorizes the cougar was recently pushed to new territory by its mother, perhaps misplaced after venturing out of a wooded setting like Linley Valley.

“It may just be having trouble trying to get out, or it may just realize, ‘Hang on, there’s a lot of deer here, why would I leave?’”

While the cougar hanging around a populated setting bordered by forest isn’t ideal, Bates said the cougar has not displayed threatening behaviour toward humans.

“If I have the opportunity we would capture it and take it out of town,” Bates said, who added the cougar is not a candidate to be put down at this point.

He recommends people to keep their pets indoors and don’t feed deer or raccoons, which will attract cougars.

According to the Cougar Sightings Nanaimo Facebook page numerous other cougar sightings have been made around Nanaimo lately, including Chase River.

In early July, warning signs were placed in Buttertubs Marsh Park due to several cougar sightings in the popular wildlife conservation area.

Bates said if you come across a cougar don’t scream or run; make yourself look big, stare it down, maintain eye contact and back away slowly.

Roughly 1,000 cougars live on Vancouver Island, home of the largest concentration of cougars in the world.

Notable conflicts between humans and wildlife should be reported to the BCCOS immediately at 1-877-952-7277.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes

by Ian Holmes

VIDEO: ‘We’ve had multiple calls:’ young cougar strolls through Nanaimo’s Rocky Point area

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