Despite rumours of a cougar being shot last week in Ardmore, sightings are slipping this fall.
The two areas with high sightings this summer have been Ardmore and Horth Hill.
Most recently, a cougar sighting was reported to police on Oct. 1 around 11 p.m. near Mount Newton X and West Saanich Roads. Previous to that, Sidney North Saanich RCMP were called out Sept. 24 on Tatlow Road for a report of a cougar. Neither time did officers locate a cat.
RCMP and the Conservation Office report they haven’t been involved in any cougar deaths on the Saanich Peninsula since the incident during the summer when one of the large wildcats was cornered on Beacon Pier. In that case, a conservation officer shot the cougar in the early hours of July 8, after the animal made its way through downtown streets from the McTavish interchange area.
If you see a cougar near an urban area, or have a wildlife safety concern, call the BC Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277. Call 9-1-1 in an emergency situation, where the animal poses an immediate risk to human safety.