Fish and Wildlife officials are reminding residents to take measures to ensure potential attractants are properly contained following an unconfirmed report of a cougar sighting.
Darren McInnes, a Sundre Fish and Wildlife officer, said on Monday that a report had been called in about a cougar that had been spotted prowling around Snake Hill last week.
However, the caller reported the sighting the following day, and wildlife officials were not able to confirm the predator’s presence.
McInnes said there could well have been a cougar that came through, but added there have been no other reports.
“That’s the only call we received,” he said.
Officials urge the public to report sightings as soon as possible.
Due to the nature of Sundre’s interface that is surrounded by wildlife habitat, it is not uncommon to have predators such as cougars and even black bears roaming around the area, said McInnes.
“It’s important to contain all of your attractants.”
Anything that emits a smell that an animal like a bear or cougar could potentially be attracted to — such as garbage, compost, birdseed, and pet food — should be properly contained and ideally never left in the yard, he said.
Spring and fall are statistically speaking the most likely times of year for encounters, especially with bears as they come out of hibernation in the spring, and later in the fall as they prepare for the winter, he said.
During regular weekday hours, call the local office at 403-638-3805 to report sightings, or dial 1-800-642-3800 outside office hours.
