5 cougars caught on trail camera by wildlife enthusiast in Powell River, B.C. | 24CA News
Just a neighborhood household out for a stroll.
That’s what wildlife fanatic Wayne Obermeyer figures he captured after one in every of his path cameras caught 5 cougars wandering via the woods collectively close to Powell River, B.C., earlier this month.
The predator cats are identified to be solitary animals, and Obermeyer, who has been capturing animals on path cameras for 15 years, stated the cat quintet — which he believes to be a mom and 4 kittens — was one thing he had by no means seen earlier than.
“I thought people would enjoy seeing the video, so I posted it publicly,” stated Obermeyer, talking Tuesday on CBC’s On The Island.
Watch | Five cougars prowl and play previous a path digicam:
Wayne Obermeyer has filmed wildlife for 15 years and that is his first cat quintet.
The video was shot at 8:20 p.m. on July 17, about 16 kilometres outdoors of Powell River on a logging highway. One cougar seems to be main because the others path behind, wrestling and taking part in with one another.
Cougars can have anyplace from one to 6 kittens that can stick with their mom till they’re 11 to 18 months outdated, based on WildSafeBC.
“I imagine they’re going to be kicked out of the house pretty soon,” stated Obermeyer.
He stated he has three path cameras that he checks each two to a few weeks, and whereas he has seen a whole lot of bears and bobcats through the years, cougar sightings have been few and much between. This yr, he stated, has been an exception.
On The Island6:38How many cougars are you able to catch in a single image? For one Powell River man, the reply is 5.
Kathryn Marlow spoke with Wayne Obermeyer, a Powell River primarily based wildlife photographer, who captured a picture of a gaggle of 5 cougars.
“This year has been quite prolific for cougars, actually, I have seen quite a few cougars on my trail cameras,” stated Obermeyer. “These cats are around everywhere.”
He thinks that is possible as a result of logging has created patches of latest vegetation that appeal to deer and elk and, in flip, the cats that prey on them.
Siobhan Darlington, chief of the Southern B.C. Cougar Project on the University of British Columbia-Okanagan campus stated Obermeyer’s footage does seem to point out a mature feminine with 4 subadult cougars that have a look at least one yr outdated.
Darlington, in an e-mail, stated cougars have lower than a 50 per cent likelihood of surviving till 18 months.
“It’s great to see a litter survive to this age,” wrote Darlington.
Cougars are the biggest wild cat within the county and are broadly distributed throughout British Columbia. They can dash as much as 70 kilometres an hour, journey greater than 50 kilometres day by day, and develop as much as three metres lengthy. According to Sierra Club B.C., males can weigh as much as 65 kilograms and females as much as 45.
Cougars are formidable predators, and whereas they are going to attempt to keep away from encountering folks by transferring round extra at daybreak and nightfall, folks ought to all the time be ready when traipsing round in cougar territory.
The B.C.Conservation Officer Service advises that in the event you encounter a cougar, by no means flip your again on the cat and run. Pick up youngsters, make your self look as giant as attainable and preserve the animal in entrance of you always.
Arm your self with something that can be utilized as a weapon (sticks, rocks, bear spray) and if the cougar reveals curiosity in you, act aggressively by baring your enamel, sustaining eye contact and making noise. The thought is to persuade the cougar that you’re a risk.
If you consider a cougar poses an instantaneous risk or hazard to public security, contact the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP).
