The B.C. Conservation Officer Service, established in 1905, is the lead provincial government program for managing and responding to wildlife/human conflicts where there is a risk to public safety or property damage.
Conservation Officers respond to human-wildlife conflicts using lethal and non-lethal means as appropriate.
Human-wildlife conflicts are assessed to determine the level of risk and action required.
A 24/7 call centre is utilized to receive and direct complaints and provide information dealing with human-wildlife conflict.
January 2011 has had several calls received to the Conservation Officer Service, Williams Lake regarding cougar sightings and cougar pet/livestock depredation occurrences. The complaint numbers are similar to past years and are representative of the area we live in.
The general public can contact the Conservation Officer Service regarding human-wildlife conflict concerns through the 24/7 Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) call centre toll-free line at 1-877-952-7277, or on your cellphone by dialling #7277, or visit www.rapp.bc.ca.
If you are experiencing a problem or concern with a cougar, call the Conservation Officer Service first and immediately, and we will respond. The sooner we receive the call the more effective our response will be.
Adult male cougars can weigh 140-165 pounds. Females typically weigh 100 pounds. The average life span for a male is eight to 10 years, and 12 to 14 for females.
Cougars are normally nocturnal and typically prey on their available food source within the areas they live.
This diet can include deer, bighorn sheep, moose, beaver, black bear cubs, other cougar, bobcat, coyote, grouse and rodents. Cougars may attack domestic animals and pets similar in shape, size and smell to wild prey. Cougars are intelligent animals and learn to hunt through positive experiences. Cougars that have learned to hunt pets and livestock near residences can threaten the safety of other pets and livestock in the neighborhood.
Two separate incidences occurred recently involving cougars attacking and injuring dogs near residences in the Horsefly Lake and Dugan Lake rural areas.
Conservation officers responded and investigated each report received. From these investigations, Williams Lake conservation officers live-trapped one cougar and utilized a Conservation Officer Service hound’s man to apprehend the other cougar. Two cougars responsible for dog attacks were euthanized.
Killing a depredating cougar is only a short-term solution to loss of pets or livestock. Conservation officers recommend the following tips to the public to assist in preventing cougar attacks on pets and livestock:
• Cats and dogs are easy prey. Attempt to keep your pets indoors or secure them in a covered run, especially through the night.
• Cougars depend on surprise to catch their prey. Installing either motion- or timer-activated outdoor lighting around your home and animal enclosures may keep cougars away.
• Cougars need cover to surprise a prey animal. Clear a brush-free zone around a residence and a pet/livestock night kennel/paddock.
• Rural residences should avoid feeding deer or other prey species, which may attract cougars that might opportunistically attack domestic animals.
• Build livestock cougar-proof enclosures.
Cougar attacks on humans are extremely rare. If concerned, copies of the Safety Guide to Cougars are available at www.env.gov.bc.ca.
The B.C. Ministry of Environment estimates the cougar population within our province to be approximately 4,000. Even though cougars are seldom seen, the public should be aware they are present and, at rare times, travel through rural residential areas.
The Conservation Officer Service is reminding the public when sighting a cougar or experiencing cougar pet/livestock depredation the importance of immediately reporting the incident to the Conservation Officer Service.
