A recent human-cougar encounter along the Fallen Timber Creek south of Bergen highlights the importance of being well prepared and equipped to react in a quick and safe manner when meeting up with wildlife, say officials.
On July 26 a couple fishing on the creek near their campsite spotted cougar tracks in the sand and gravel. A short time later a large cougar appeared nearby and advanced towards them.
The couple discharged a bear banger – a hand-fired device that lobs a small explosive charge towards the animal – and the resulting loud bang scared the animal off.
The unnamed couple reported the incident to Mountain View BearSmart Society (MVBS) officials, who posted details of the encounter on the society's email fan-out.
Willy Rasmussen, a problem wildlife technician with Sundre Fish and Wildlife office, says bear bangers and other noisemakers can be very effective when it comes to preventing unwanted bear, cougar and other wildlife encounters.
“If you are down along a creek or out strolling in the woods, they are good to have for sure,” said Rasmussen. “We also recommend bearspray. Carry both. The banger is if the animal is further away and spray is if they are right up close.”
Rasmussen says cougars will sometimes stalk people they encounter just to see who they are.
“They don't know what you are so they will follow you to see what you are. That is typical cougar behaviour. So if you have a bear banger or an air horn, lots of times that will spook them away,” he said.
He recommends that people working in the district's wilderness areas should also carry noisemakers and bearspray.
Jane Bicknell, with the MVBS, echoed Rasmussen's comments, saying being properly equipped with noisemakers such as bear bangers is a good way to prevent potentially dangerous animal encounters.
“Bear bangers or other noisemakers like air horns are very important to advertise your presence,” said Bicknell. “They are effective in scaring away bears, cougars and other wildlife such as coyotes or wolves if you feel threatened. Noisemakers are a good scaring technique.
“Obviously you need to be very, very careful with them. They are not for kids. When you use them you have to be very sure that you set them off so they land in front of the animal to scare them away from you. The last thing you want is to shoot it behind the animal and scare it towards you.
“We encourage people who see a bear or a cougar in their yard or property, even if it isn't doing anything, to scare it away. Things like air horns and bear bangers are very effective in scaring them off. The animals will realize that people and houses are not good to be around in the future.”
Bearspray is also a must for people visiting or working in wilderness areas, she said.
“It is very effective as well,” she said. “Of course you need to keep yourself safe.”
As part of its ongoing efforts to prevent unwanted wildlife encounters in the region, the MVBS recently issued an information bulletin regarding bear spray and noisemakers. Information on the use of deterrent devices such as bangers, air horns and bearspray is available on the MVBS website at www.mountainviewbearsmart.com/
The high summer is typically a time of numerous wildlife encounters in the Sundre district, and this year has been no different, with recent black bear, grizzly bear and cougar sightings in the Bergen area, along the Fallen Timber Creek and along the Little Red Deer River near Water Valley.
In one case, on July 28, a black bear seen watching horses south of Bergen was scared off by a warning shot in the air from a local landowner, MVBS officials said.
In another case, a grizzly bear reportedly chased two people on an ATV west of Caroline on Aug. 2.
Anyone encountering wildlife in the district that is perceived to be a danger to the public is asked to contact the Sundre Fish and Wildlife office at 403-638-3805 or call 310-0000 toll-free for the nearest office. After hours, call the 24-hour toll-free Report-A-Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.
