The BC Conservation Officer Service says the cougar which arrived on Bowen last summer has not done anything to warrant removal from the island.
“This is not a threshold that we are even close to, or have any reason to believe that we will reach anytime soon,” said Conservation Officer Service (COS) inspector Simon Gravel on Monday. He explained reports indicate the cougar has behaved as expected since arriving, hunting wildlife such as deer and avoiding hostile encounters with humans. While there have been several sightings of the animal, by its nature the cougar has kept largely out of sight.
But the big cat has proved controversial, and has been the subject of many complaints from residents to COS over the past few months. Last month the municipality penned a letter to the province’s chief conservation officer requesting a meeting with COS to discuss the cougar’s presence. The combination of feedback prompted Gravel’s virtual appearance before council this week.
The inspector acknowledged that cougars are generally viewed negatively by people when the animal finds itself near a populated area. “Cultural tolerance of cougars is very well known to be very low in every community… For some cultural or historic reason, the presence of a cougar is always alarming for people. I understand that and can have empathy for that,” said Gravel.
“However it’s important to note that cougar attacks on humans are extremely rare. Having the presence of a cougar on the landscape itself is not necessarily a threat to residents and the public,” added Gravel. He says when a complaint is made to COS, the organization assesses the risk to the public when deciding next steps. This judgement is weighted more toward officers’ experience and knowledge of the animal in question rather than how the complainant feels about the situation.
“Our assessment of the presence of this threat… and the perception of fear that the residents may have – it has to be acknowledged that maybe there’s a gap there. If I have a cougar in my backyard I can be alarmed, I can have some fear and concern. But the assessment of a conservation officer needs to determine what the presence of this cougar really represents in terms of risk and public safety threat,” said Gravel.
Nor, said Gravel, is it the service’s role to influence how animals move through local environments. “We cannot respond to any alarming presence of wildlife by destroying this wildlife, or capturing and moving and traumatizing it and playing with the ecosystem.”
“You can expect cougars and bears and predators on Bowen Island. It’s not something the COS can shelter Bowen Island from, it’s not our role and responsibility,” says Gravel.
That said, he explained there is lots which people can do to adapt to living with predators. In the specific case of the Bowen cougar, advice includes caution when heading out on wooded trails and to travel in groups if possible. Parents should talk to their children about what to do if they see a cougar, and try to avoid having kids play alone outside.
Pets should be on leashes while out walking and in a fenced, supervised area at home, while also coming inside at night. More tips for safely coexisting with cougars can be found in the ‘Staying Safe Around Wildlife - Cougars’ section of the provincial government website. You can also learn more on the WildSafeBC website.
“It’s the responsibility of everyone to educate themselves, wherever you live in BC, about the challenges and what you can do to live with wildlife,” says Gravel.
Regarding what behaviour could lead to an increased response by COS, Gravel said factors include if the cougar moves its hunting locations from the forest into people’s backyards. So far the cougar has kept its hunts to wooded areas, including a cougar cache found in the northwest area of the island. Other escalating incidents could include property damage, entering homes or occupied buildings, or attacks on domestic animals or humans.
“If there’s signs that lead us to believe and know that this animal represents an immediate threat to public safety, you can be reassured and certain that we will respond and take immediate action to mitigate that risk,” said Gravel.
Anyone witnessing unnatural or aggressive behaviour by the cougar, or any wild animal, is urged to contact COS by calling 1-877-952-7277.
