Police are asking West Shore residents to be on alert after a Colwood man saw three cougars in his backyard Monday morning, capturing the rare sight on camera.
The man reported the trio of cougars to West Shore RCMP at around 8:20 a.m. after he saw them on his property near the 580 block of Latoria Road, according to police. The man was safe inside his home at the time the call was made.
Video sent to CHEK News shows the three cougars scampering away when they notice they’re being recorded.
A short while later, a West Shore Mountie patrolling the area also spotted a lone cougar crossing the street and going into Havenwood Park. It’s unclear if it was a fourth cougar, or one of the three spotted earlier.
“The officer advised the cougar appeared to be younger and not quite full grown,” West Shore RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Nancy Saggar said in a statement.
The BC Conservation Officer Service has been notified, according to RCMP. CHEK News has reached out to BCCOS for more information.
Anyone who spots or comes into contact with a cougar is advised to:
- remain calm and maintain eye contact
- make yourself as large as possible by standing tall and raising your arms
- make noise to make your presence known
- if the cougar appears aggressive or approaches, it’s important to be prepared to defend yourself with bear spray or other means
- if you are attacked, fight back with everything you have.
If you spot a cougar and it poses an immediate threat or danger to public safety, report it to the BC Conservation Officer Service by calling 1-877-952-7277.
READ MORE: Conservation sets up live trap for cougar on Protection Island
A map of the area the cougars were seen in is shown below:
CHEK News
