As reports of conflicts with cougars and bears “surge” across Greater Victoria, Wild Wise is reminding folks that “predators aren’t the problem, unsecured attractants are.”
According to the Sooke-based wildlife group, a cougar was responsible for the death of a domestic cat in Metchosin, while others have been preying on livestock.
Backyard chickens have reportedly been killed by bears in multiple South Island areas, and bears have been seen accessing garbage.
All preventable incidents, says Mollie Cameron, Wild Wise president.
“Unfortunately, it only takes one house not securing attractants to change an animal's natural behaviour,” she said. “And then they seek out the easy calories and the behaviour escalates, right to a point where we see bears exclusively feeding on garbage, or cougars exclusively feeding on livestock.”
In Saanich, police have urged locals to be cautious following multiple reports of a cougar in a 48-hour period.
First spotted May 14 in the 3800 block of Rowland Ave., running through backyards, the cougar was also seen running across Highway 17 and on the Lochside Trail near Swan Lake Park.
It was last seen May 15 by police in the 1000 block of Hulford St. walking down the road.
“The public is warned to use caution in this area as the behaviour of the cougar is concerning,” said police in a news release, advising folks to not approach the animal and to walk away slowly if they encounter it.
Normally skilled at evading humans and remaining out of sight, Cameron believes the Saanich cougar could be a young male searching for new territory after being driven away by its mother.
“From what I've heard, the cougar is not getting into any conflict per se, it’s just being spotted, which is a good thing,” she adds.
Regardless of its motive, the Saanich cougar sightings are a reminder that predators live among us at all times, says Cameron, not just "exclusively when sightings are posted on social media."
“That's why it's important to be proactive all the time, rather than reactive,” she says.
She recommends walking dogs on leash, keeping pet cats indoors, practicing proper animal husbandry for chickens and other livestock and securing garbage.
All simple, yet significant changes that can have a positive impact for wildlife, says Cameron.
"Coexistence isn’t just an ideal, it’s a responsibility – and if we fail at that, it’s the wildlife who pay the price,” she says, noting that animals deemed a risk to public safety are sometimes destroyed by conservation officers or relocated.
While assumed to be the more humane option by the public, Cameron says relocation of food-conditioned predators is often not the best solution.
As the animal does not "unlearn" the behaviour, the conflicts can continue in the new location if unsecured attractants are in the area, she explains. Relocating a predator can also put it at risk of starvation or conflict with other animals in the new territory.
For Cameron and the Wild Wise team, prevention is better than cure. “If there is no conflict from unsecured attractants, there is often no requirement for response.”
In the event of an emerging conflict with a predator, the public are advised to contact the BC Conservation Service's RAPP (report all poachers and polluters) line: 1-877-952-7277.
"Early intervention allows for educational opportunities and prevention before behaviours escalate," Cameron says.
