Those planning on taking a walk around Old Town Bay in Sicamous are urged to keep on the lookout for cougars.
One or more of the wild cats have been seen in the beach area, a popular spot for leisurely strolls.
A cougar happened to cross Rob Wilcock’s path as he was walking the beach on Monday, Feb. 27.
“I was walking along the beach and I heard a rustling in the trees and a deer came flying out, a couple of big hops and dove into the lake,” said Wilcock. “Before I could even wonder, why is he diving into the lake, a cougar came running out of the bush right behind him.
“It chased him down to the water’s edge and the deer was swimming away and the cougar just sort of watched him and didn’t go in the water. Then he turned around he saw me standing there.”
Wilcock said he held the cougar’s gaze for a minute or two before it took off back into the bush.
“That’s exactly sort of the behaviour I would have expected from it when it saw me,” said Wilcock. “It just stared at me and watched me. It didn’t want to come anywhere near me. But I also know you don’t turn around and try to run away. If I’d suddenly turned and ran, it probably would have given chase.”
Wilcock described the animal as large and healthy, possibly a male. Though he admits seeing the cougar did get his heart beating faster, he knew what to do to avoid unnecessary peril: stay calm, do not run, don’t turn your back, stand your ground and try to make yourself look big.
“I talked to it, told it to get lost and it did and it went back up,” said Wilcock.
According to WildSafeBC, cougars are carnivorous “spot and stalk” hungers that usually hunt deer, but will also pursue young moose, elk and bighorn sheep, as well as smaller animals like beavers, rabbits and squirrels when the opportunity presents itself.
Attacks by cougars on humans are rare but can be fatal, especially if young children are involved.
For more information, visit https://wildsafebc.com/cougar/.