Five cougars were spotted crossing a property in the Osadchuk Heights subdivision located on the east edge of town during the evening of Oct. 7.
According to fish and wildlife officers, it is not the first time cougars have been spotted in the area over the last few weeks, and they believe part of the reason is because residents in the subdivision are feeding deer.
There is already an abundance of deer in the subdivision on a regular basis, but officers say there is an increase because people are leaving food out for deer, such as salt blocks.
“There's more deer than you're going to find in any other normal spot just because they're being fed by the public and there's really no predators for them to worry about,” said Adam Mirus, fish and wildlife officer for the Sundre and Olds area.
“But those are the type of opportunities that especially cougars will look for. They will sit back and they will pattern those deer and see where they're going to and from,” he said, adding deer are one of the main components of a cougar's diet.
Fish and wildlife officers received a tip from the Sundre and Area Buy and Sell Facebook page that the cougars had been spotted last week.
“There was over 50 comments on the buy and sell, and not one phone call to us,” he said. “So that can be concerning.”
The cougars included an adult female with four kittens, he said, adding a regular litter for a cougar is two to four kittens.
A cougar is much like a bear; where it finds food it will return for more.
“With all the deer in that area they're going to sit closer to that area because of that,” he said.
“The first thing that a human looks for is food and shelter – well it's no different for a cougar.”
He advises people living in the area to prune their trees and keep their grass trimmed because cougars like to hide.
“If it's got lots of food and shelter then it's going to think about having a litter. And this is a pretty good indicator that it's got lots of food and it's got lots of shelter, because it not only has two kittens but it has four.”
He advises people to call the 24-hour report a poacher line if they spot a cougar or any other wildlife, at 1-800-642-3800.
“That just kind of lets us know where they're going or what direction they might be headed. But it also helps us inform the public if need be,” he said.
Fish and wildlife officers delivered cougar information pamphlets in mailboxes of residences in the Osadchuk Heights subdivision the following day. They also posted signs warning people of cougars in the area.
“We just want a safe interaction if there is going to be an interaction. We just want people to give them their space, give them their distance,” he said.
“But at the same point in time, you know, you are living on an acreage – these are the types of wildlife and critters you are going to see out there.”
He said residents should be knowledgeable about cougars and other wildlife that may be entering the area.
Officers will trap a cougar if they are staying in one area, however, they are extremely difficult animals to trap, he said.
When trapping a cougar, officers use hounds to track the cougar, and then tree it and tranquilize it.
“Whether or not we would be able to tranquilize it or we would have to put them down would be dependent on the dynamics of the situation,” he said.
It is uncommon for cougars to be spotted. However, another two cougars were spotted in the same subdivision a few weeks ago. Fish and wildlife officers chased the cougars out of town using cougar hounds.
For more information or to keep up to date on cougar and bear sightings, visit www.mountainviewbearsmart.com.
