File photo. Courtesy of CBC.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS) says a cougar attack on a house cat in Ucluelet Wednesday night is a good reminder for pet owners to keep their animals inside.
Central Vancouver Island COS) Sgt. Stuart Bates said officers were called around 11:30 p.m. after a cougar had grabbed the cat near the Co-Op gas station on Peninsula Road. The cat died in the attack.
Bates says the conservation office is monitoring the situation and don’t know if it is the same cougar that was reported in Ucluelet about a month ago.
He said a cougar killing a house cat is not unusual since it fits the prey profile. He suspects it is a younger cougar that would be looking for raccoons in the area.
“It has four legs and it’s furry,” Bates said.
“If you have a pet, keep it inside at night. There are all kinds of predators that would come after a small animal, from eagles to bears to wolves.”
Bates says he has heard of cougar sightings being reported on Facebook, but since he doesn’t track the social media platform, it is imperative people call the conservation office if they see a predator.
Bates says the more details conservation officers get of a predator sighting, the better informed they are to make decisions based on an animal’s behaviour.
Bates says it is wrong to assume a cougar, bear or any other predator sighting will mean the animal would be shot by conservation officers.
He says people should not be scared, but be vigilant and aware that those animals are all over Vancouver Island.
Andy Neal
