The recent killing of a small dog in Brackendale, probably by a cougar, did not prompt conservation officers to alert residents of any potential danger because the big cat didn't cause any subsequent problems in the area, an official said this week.
The incident, which took place July 15, occurred when a Birken Road resident let her Yorkshire terrier out in her home's fenced yard just after dawn. When the resident returned a few minutes later to call the dog in, it was gone, Sgt. Peter Busink of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service told The Chief on Monday (July 30).
Shortly thereafter, the resident found the deceased dog about half a block away. The circumstances and the wounds left on the dog led officers to believe the dog was killed by a cougar, Busink said.
Just from the wounds of the dog and based on the circumstances, it's likely that it was a cougar. That's not confirmed, he said.
Since the incident, officers have received only one other report of a cougar sighting in the area, Busink said, adding that it's not unusual for cougars to prey on small pets in areas that are close to the forest.
There was more activity at that time, but this is just a cougar doing its thing, he said. It didn't seem to be a threat to public safety.
Humans are not a regular prey item for cougars. When cougars start preying on small pets and such, [the pets] represent a significantly different type of prey than humans. There's always an inherent risk to living in areas where there are cougars, and people should take precautions, but certainly the cougar didn't represent any heightened risk to public safety.
Authorities are reminding people to secure all potential attractants, including garbage, bird feeders and fruit, as a result of recent bear activity, Busink said. A number of violation tickets and dangerous wildlife protection orders have been issued for those who failed to secure their attractants, Busink said.
The RCMP recently shot and killed a bear that had been prowling around the Alice Lake Provincial Park campground, Busink said. It was the sixth bear destroyed in the Squamish area this year.
Officials are suggesting that fruit be picked from trees and shrubs before it ripens to reduce the potential for dangerous bear encounters.
In the latter half of summer, bears are working harder than ever to get any food they can, so we're urging people to secure attractants and to pick fruit as it ripens, Busink said.
To report wildlife encounters or environmental offences, please phone the Ministry of Environment's Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-866-952-RAPP (7277).
