On July 24, Grande Prairie’s Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services (FWES) received a report of a cougar sighting. The officers responded to the report and confirmed that this was a true sighting, which occurred southeast of Grande Prairie near the Wedgewood subdivision. The cougar likely moved on and no further reports were received by FWES afterwards.

This is an important reminder that true cougar sightings are relatively low in number as they are elusive and generally not found within heavily populated areas. However, sightings have been on the rise in the last decade due to a greater number of people living and recreating in traditional cougar habitat and a healthy population of prey animals that has led to growth in the cougar population. It’s worth noting that cougars are often confused with other animals, and many sightings reported to wildlife agencies are found to be coyotes, bobcats, yellow dogs or even house cats.

Although encounters are rare, it is important to know what precautions to take and what to do if you encounter a cougar:

·We always recommend traveling in groups and carrying some form of protection, such as bear spray.

·If you see a cougar in the distance, do not run or turn your back.

·If the cougar appears to be unaware of your presence, gather children and pets in close, slowly and cautiously back away and leave the area.

·If a cougar is hissing and snarling or staring intently and tracking your movements, do not run, and do not play dead. Make yourself look big and speak loudly.

·If the cougar makes contact, fight back and don’t give up. Use all means at your disposal.

It’s also critical to never feed any kind of wildlife in order to help prevent cougars and other predators from coming to your neighbourhood. Cougars are efficient predators that feed largely on deer and small mammals. Feeding or leaving fallen bird seed or salt licks that attract wildlife, such as deer or small animals, to your property will, in turn, attract cougars and other predators. Urban deer that get food from unnatural sources tend to become slower and more docile, making them easier prey for cougars and other predators. Cougars may be more likely to enter human-use areas if the deer there are easier to catch.

If you encounter a cougar or other wildlife that may be a public safety concern, please report the incident to the 24-hour Report a Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.

For more information about preventing human wildlife conflict, visit https://www.alberta.ca/cougars.aspx

Information provided by the Government of Alberta