Cougar shot after foray into park in Esquimalt

The cougar shot and killed by Victoria police on Sunday was a young male who likely came from west of the city, a conservation officer said Monday.

Peter Pauwels, B.C. Conservation Officer for South Vancouver Island, said his department had received several reports over previous days of a cougar, believed to be the same one, in the area of Royal Roads University.

“It appeared like it was headed towards town,” said Pauwels. “It could have followed the shoreline around Esquimalt Harbour and that’s how it ended up in Esquimalt.”

Police killed the animal, a male, with a single shot, after finding it in Highrock Park, about 200 metres outside the grounds of Rockheights Middle School.

According to online statements from Victoria police, a woman walking with two young children spotted the animal on Fernhill Road, across from Esquimalt Plaza, about 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Police said they contacted B.C. Conservation officials, who informed them the animal would not be relocated. So the animal was killed.

“They had two choices: either let it go or kill it,” said Pauwels. “Where it was was not a place where it would be a good idea to let that thing just wander off.”

He said the animal was a male, likely about 18 months to two years old, and weighed about 45 kilograms or 100 pounds. It was also in good shape, not thin or sickly.

Pauwels said the area west of Goldstream Provincial Park, extending into the Sooke Hills, is good habitat for large mammals and has a healthy population of cougars.

But he and other wildlife specialists say young cougars often find themselves tossed out of their home territory when their mother is ready to mate again. It can happen at any time of the year, leaving young animals to find a new area to make their own. But space on Vancouver Island is limited, since it already has a high concentration of cougars.

Territory is often already occupied by a mature adult, often a male, which will fight to hold onto it. So young animals can find themselves squeezed into areas that are not ideal. On Vancouver Island, they can wander right into Greater Victoria.

“We are on the tip of an Island and there is only so much suitable habitat,” said Pauwels.

“[Territory] is all pretty well booked up, but the young still have to find a suitable place to set up shop.”

Mike Badry, B.C. Environment wildlife conflict manager, said communities that want to keep conflicts with cougars down should start by keeping prey animals out of reach.

Populations of animals such as deer and raccoon should be kept in check. Pets and livestock should be kept indoors or enclosed.

“If there is no prey around, chances are cougars will walk in and walk out on their own,” said Badry.

If you do encounter a cougar, he said, don’t run, but back away slowly and deliberately. Turning and running can initiate a predator-prey response, with you becoming the prey.

If the cougar appears interested — for example, it keeps moving toward you — shout, stand up and make yourself look as big as possible, maybe by opening your jacket.

If the animal attacks, be prepared to fight like crazy. It often works.

Cougar attacks are rare, Badry said, adding that in the past 200-odd years, only 80 attacks have been recorded in B.C. and only eight were fatal for people.

In October of 2015, a large cougar found in James Bay was tranquilized and relocated.

More famously, a cougar was tranquilized after becoming trapped in the underground parkade of the Empress Hotel in 1992.

In 1989, a cougar leaped through the window of a James Bay basement suite.