Cougar followed, hissed at hikers in latest incident prompting warning from Alberta Parks | 24CA News

There are two energetic cougar warnings in place west of Calgary — a reminder to Albertans to stay vigilant on hikes and winter walks.

After a number of cougar sightings close to Canmore, a warning was issued on Jan. 8 and stays in place for the city and Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park, particularly Cougar Creek, Horseshoe Loop Trails, Montane Traverse Loop and surrounding areas. 

John Paczkowski, human-wildlife coexistence staff lead with Alberta Parks, mentioned there have not been any sightings within the Canmore space for the previous 10 days. He famous an absence of contemporary snow, heat daytime temperatures and competing human footprints has made it robust to trace whether or not or not the animal stays within the space.

“We’re kind of monitoring the situation,” Paczkowski mentioned. “It might be a few days yet before the warnings come down.”

Another incident, this time in Kananaskis Country, prompted a cougar warning on Monday. 

A cougar reportedly adopted a pair who had been mountain climbing close to the Blackshale Creek Suspension Bridge, which is on a portion of the High Rockies Trail from Kent Creek to the Black Prince Junction. 

In that case, the hikers relayed an in depth report back to Alberta Parks officers.

The couple heard what was described as yelling once they noticed what seemed to be a pair of lynx, one massive and one small. They had stopped to have a look when one of many hikers noticed one thing extra regarding close by. 

A pair of lynx, a pair of cougars

“The husband in the party sort of went, ‘No, let’s get out of here, let’s go,'” Paczkowski mentioned. “Because he saw a cougar crouching under a tree not far away.” 

Not only one, however two cougars. The hikers pulled out some bear spray and started leaving the world. The cougars had been hissing and following 10 metres behind. 

Paczkowski mentioned the hikers made it again to the street, and the cougars did not come any nearer. 

This kind of behaviour, Paczkowski added, is not typical. But as a result of cougars are hard-pressed to make kills within the early fall and winter when ungulates are nonetheless in a position to scrounge up sufficient power to flee a hunt, it is a difficult time for the predators — particularly younger cougars. 

“So they start to show up a little bit and, you know, maybe push the boundaries.” 

Province has about 1,500 cougars

Alberta has a wholesome cougar inhabitants, mentioned Paul Frame, provincial carnivore specialist for Alberta Fish and Wildlife. He  mentioned the inhabitants has constructed itself up over a number of many years, following inhabitants progress in white-tailed deer and different ungulates.

Frame mentioned the province believes there are about 1,500 cougars unfold throughout Alberta. That quantity was about 600 or 700 a decade in the past. 

Typically, he added, cougars can reside near people with out incident. 

But in winter, they are often simpler to identify as a result of there’s much less foliage to cover behind, they usually depart tracks behind within the snow. 

In one research the province carried out, they collared about 100 cougars and watched their behaviour for six years, Frame mentioned. 

“We had one young male that dispersed and went up and he hung around the town of Whitecourt for two months,” Frame mentioned. “We got no reports of him … no sightings, no reports of any, any issues with him. And then eventually he moved on.” 

While cougars are typically cautious of people, assaults do occur.

The final recorded cougar assault in Alberta occurred in August 2022. Frame mentioned the province had gone about three years because the earlier assault.

How to behave when a cougar approaches

The finest recommendation for these headed out on winter hikes or walks is to not let your guard down.

Bear spray continues to be helpful within the colder months. Paczkowski mentioned there is not as a lot knowledge on its use towards cougars, however added it’ll decelerate or cease a cougar assault in a pinch. 

Other methods in a cougar encounter are to be assertive, and never seem weak, make your self look large, make noise, brandish a stick and even throw issues on the cougar.

“If a cougar is approaching in a threatening manner, it’s hunting,” Frame mentioned. “The best way to deal with that is to make the cougar think that it’s not worth the risk to try and attack.”