Was rare cougar spotted at Belwood Lake?

BELWOOD LAKE — Is a cougar on the prowl at Belwood Lake?

Sightings of a large animal with a long tail in recent days have locals buzzing, concerned for the safety of children and pets in the cottage area northeast of Fergus.

There’s no proof that it is, in fact, a cougar — and officials with the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry say that would be a very rare occurrence, indeed.

But Jeryka Lewis doesn’t need any convincing.

“It was most definitely a cougar,” she said — tan colouring, long tail, bigger than her Labrador retriever.

She’s seen a lot of different wildlife in the time her family’s spent at the lake, and this looked like none of those things.

She says it trotted across 9th Street the other night about 7 p.m. when she was driving home from work, and headed back into the forest.

“I’m pretty sure all of the blood rushed out of my face,” Lewis said.

Hers is one of several recent sightings in the area around 9th Street and the Maple Leaf Acres park, off of Wellington County Road 18. And a couple of weeks ago, area residents heard what sounded like a vicious animal attack in the woods.

“It makes us feel frightened,” said Mark Scholl, who hasn’t seen or heard the creature, but who says the reports have prompted him to keep a closer eye on his dog.

“This is too close to home,” he said. “The farmers are starting to get worried, too.”

The OPP and the ministry say they’re aware of the reports that first cropped up on social media.

“We’re just scratching the surface to try to validate the situation or the complaints,” OPP Const. Joshua Cunningham said. “If you do see a public safety concern, definitely call 911 or police to have it investigated.”

Without solid photographic or physical evidence like tracks or scat, there’s not much the ministry can do either, said spokesperson Jolanta Kowalski.

“Cougars are pretty elusive animals,” she said. “Actual sightings in the province are extremely rare.”

Also called pumas or mountain lions, wild cougars are generally found in western North America. Any that do turn up in Ontario are likely really far from home, or have escaped or have been released from captivity. There’s just a small chance there’s a naturally-occurring population in Ontario, Kowalski said.

“They’re so rare they’re considered an endangered species,” she said. “We have no idea how many there are.”

The vast majority of “cougar” sightings turn out to be cases of mistaken identity, often coyotes, fishers, even large house cats.

If there really is a cougar at Belwood Lake, it wouldn’t be the first unusual visitor this year. In June, police confirm a black bear and cub were in the area.

A ministry fact sheet on avoiding conflicts with animals like cougars or lynx advises people to eliminate food sources, make noise and travel in groups, and keep dogs leashed. If you encounter one, don’t run or turn your back. Face it, talk firmly and back away slowly, leaving it an escape route. If it doesn’t flee, shout, wave your arms and throw whatever’s available at it.

You’re only allowed to kill a cougar in defence of yourself or your property, Kowalski said.

Anyone with evidence of the sighting, such as photos or dash camera footage, can contact Wellington County OPP or their local Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry office.

“If anything, I would like to see it captured humanely … and put back somewhere where it can thrive,” said Lewis.