The wildlife parade continues this summer in Squamish.
In July, coyotes in the Axen and Finch areas killed a number of cats and small dogs. Conservation Officer Chris Doyle said earlier this month that coyote activity has been above average in Squamish this summer partly because of an increased coyote population.
As early as spring, bear complaints started coming in.
On Monday (Aug. 16) Doyle added cougars to the list of wildlife coming unusually close to humans.Over the course of about a week this month, Doyle said he got reports of cougar spottings around Condor and Pia Crescent in the Garibaldi Highlands. At about the same time he got complaints of cougars prowling around the Klahanie Camp-ground and the Axen Road area of Brackendale.
Doyle said earlier this week that the complaints of sightings stopped at all three locations just days after the calls started to come in.
He received no indication that the cougars were catching pets.
"They probably moved on," Doyle said. "They weren't getting anything there so they likely left."
In the case of the Klahanie Campground, Doyle said the cougar might have been trying to catch the rabbits that roam free throughout the area across Hwy. 99 from Shannon Falls.
The cougars seem to have moved on but bears continue to be an issue. The area logging the highest number of bear complaints is the Garibaldi High-lands. Doyle is encouraging all residents to keep fruit trees free of ripe fruit and to make sure bears cannot access garbage.
"If a bear starts getting into garbage its fate is sealed," Doyle said.
The Jennifer Jones Whistler Bear Foundation (JJWBF), a group that is dedicated to protecting the well-being and lives of bears, recommends that people do all they can to deter bears from becoming comfortable in populated areas.
"Do not allow the bear to feel comfortable in 'your' territory, not even for a photo opportunity," it says on the JJWBF website in the event that a bear enters your yard. "Assess the situation and ensure the bear has a clear and safe avenue of escape. Show the bear your human presence from a secure position (e.g. balcony or window). Stand facing the bear; making yourself look as big as possible. Use a firm tone of voice to make it feel uncomfortable and encourage it to leave. You can also try banging together pots and pans or throwing stones. After the bear has left the area, remove any food sources that might have attracted it."
The JJWBF is working toward reducing the number of bears destroyed and the foundation believes one of the most effective ways to achieve that is to educate people on the importance of discouraging bears from becoming comfortable around people.
