By Sarah Rae

Cougars sightings rare, but take precautions

Jul 7, 2016 | 7:00 PM

The chance of seeing a cougar in Saskatchewan is pretty slim, but the big cats are here so it’s worth knowing what to do, according to one conservation officer.

Rich Hildebrand said the province doesn’t have a population estimate for cougars because they’re evasive by nature, but sightings have increased in the past few years.

“We get calls throughout a year, but as far as being a problem they haven’t really been a significant problem at all,” he said. “Their encounters with humans are pretty rare, but we still need to practice caution and safety when we’re in cougar areas.”

Hildebrand said cougars used to be a much bigger part of the Saskatchewan landscape, but retreated into more secluded areas probably when European settlers came. In the past decades the animal started expanding east, with increased sightings in Saskatchewan and other states and provinces, he said.

A dangerous animal warning was issued in Meota after a cougar was spotted just outside village limits Wednesday. The new SaskAlert system sent a warning advising residents to be extremely cautious.

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If Saskatchewan residents spot a cougar, like in Meota, they should contact the local conservation office or the Ministry of Environment. If somebody encounters a cougar, Hildebrand clarified what to do.

“Make sure the cougar knows that you’re not potential prey, so basically don’t run because that might trigger a predatory response. You stand up, make yourself appear as large as you can, shout, maybe throw something at it to distract it and then just back away and create a distance while maintaining eye contact,” he said.

Hildebrand said cougars are a natural part of the Saskatchewan ecosystem and are usually just going about their business. He said if a cougar is spotted in a residential area and doesn’t leave on its own, officers will try to relocate it.

Sarah Rae is battlefordsNOW’s court and crime reporter. She can be reached at Sarah.Rae@jpbg.ca or tweet her @sarahjeanrae. Concerns regarding this story can be addressed to News Director Geoff Smith at 306-446-6397.

by Sarah Rae

Cougars sightings rare, but take precautions

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