Although the recent work of the Mountain View Bear Smart Society (MVBS) and its stakeholder partners has done a lot to inform residents and visitors about the potential risks of bear encounters, it's important for everyone to be aware of cougar dangers too, say officials.There have been a number of recent cougar incidents in the district, including livestock killed in Eagle Valley, north of Westward Ho, and in the Fallen Timber area west of Didsbury.Although cougars are smaller than bears, they should certainly be treated with equal caution, says Sundre-Olds Fish and Wildlife officer Mark Hoskin.ìPrevention is the most effective way to minimize cougar encounters,î said Hoskin. ìCougar sightings and encounters are rare despite their living in forest throughout the Clearwater area (West Central Alberta). As human populations increase in rural areas, cougars are increasingly coming into contact with domestic livestock, pets and people.ìCougars have been called ëghosts of the forest' and ëshadow walkers' and are most active at sunrise and sunset,î he added.Echoing Hoskin's comments, Kathy Blain, vice-president of the MVBS, says taking preventive measures to avoid cougar encounters is the first and best way to prevent incidents.ìWith the cougar what you need to be aware of is that they bury their kills,î said Blain. ìIf you see a dead animal underneath a tree and it's half hidden away, you should leave the area because the cougar is probably not very far away.îAnd people should be sure not to leave dog or cat food unsecured near homes, campers, RVs and outbuildings since it could attract cougars, she said.As with bears, if you happen to encounter a cougar, it's very important to never turn and run.ìWith a cougar, if he's facing you, you face it down by yelling at it and making yourself as big as you can. Stand on a stump, get a big stick and wave it around and yell, and back away slowly,î Blain said. Just as it does with bear sightings, MVBS reports on cougar incidents and sightings through its website and e-mail bulletins. Anyone interested in getting on the Mountain View Bear Smart Society e-mail list can do so at www.mountainviewbearsmart.comHoskin encourages people to sign up for the MVBS e-mail bulletins.ìWhenever we get a confirmed cougar situation, we contact Mountain View County BearSmart,î said Hoskin.In the e-mail bulletins, the society purposely reports only that a cougar or bear has killed ìlivestockî and not a specific type of animal.ìWe don't want people thinking that because they have one kind of livestock and not the kind that was killed that they don't have to be as cautious,î he said.Alberta Sustainable Resource Development offers the following cougar safety tips:ï HIKING AND WORKING - If possible, don't travel alone and keep your group together at all times; keep children close at hand; check with the local Fish and Wildlife or Parks offices about recent sightings; learn to recognize cougar signs such as tracks, scat and markings; avoid areas where carcasses have been left (cougars often cover their kills); carry a walking stick and pepper spray (make sure you know how to use your pepper spray); make noise; it is best to leave your pet at home, but if you are travelling with a pet keep it on a leash at all times.ï AT HOME - Do not attract wildlife to your yard, especially prey species such as deer; when children are outside, encourage them to play in supervised groups, away from dense vegetation, and ensure they come in before dusk and they are accompanied by an adult if walking to the school bus early in the morning; feed pets indoors, never leave food outside; at night, keep pets inside a secure, covered kennel (roaming pets are easy prey); walk pets during the day, avoiding wildlife corridors along waterways and through wooded areas.ï IF YOU SEE A COUGAR - Never approach; always leave the cougar with an escape route; pick up children since a child running away may trigger an attack; do not turn your back on a cougar ñ slowly back away; stay calm and talk in a strong, firm voice; make yourself appear larger by holding your arms or other objects over your head.ï IF A COUGAR IS AGGRESSIVE - Try to appear as if you are the predator; actions such as shouting, waving a stick or throwing rocks may help prevent an attack; if a cougar does attack, fight back since people have survived by using their bare fists, sticks, fishing rods, rocks and other items to defend themselves; never play dead with a cougar.Anyone encountering a bear or cougar in the district is asked to call the nearest Fish & Wildlife office ñ in Sundre, the number is 403-638-3805, in Olds 403-556-4256, or call toll-free at 310-0000 and ask for the nearest office.After hours, call the 24-hour toll-free Report A Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800. If the situation is a public safety emergency, call 911.
