British Columbia, Canada is home to several species of carnivorous felines including lynx and bobcats but the mountain lions, also known as cougars or pumas, are the largest. BC has a healthy population of mountain lions with an estimated 5000-7000 living in the province. BC mountain lion population fluctuations appear to be correlated with prey abundance and in some places populations may be cyclic.
British Columbia’s mountain lions are largely considered elusive creatures known for their stealth and ability to remain hidden from humans. As primarily solitary animals, mountain lions prefer to avoid human interaction and despite their widespread presence in BC, actual sightings of cougars are rare making this footage taken by school psychologist Angela Murphy quite unusual.
Murphy was on her way to work near Harrison Mills, British Columbia when she caught this incredible sighting of a mountain lion. There was much concern that the big cat might be sick or injured due to its brazen behavior on a busy road but Murphy spoke with BC Wildlife Biologist who attributed it to the simple curiosity of a subadult. While fatal mountain lion attacks are rare in BC (5 total in 100 years) the potential exists and knowing what to do in an encounter is important to anyone living in mountain lion country. Learn more about mountain lion safety below:
BCSPCA Mountain Lion Safety Guidelines:
What do you do if you see a cougar?
Cougars are found throughout much of B.C. and are also known as mountain lions or pumas. Cougars are generally very secretive and rarely seen. However, cougars may occasionally pass through urban settings, or when young cougars leave their parents, they start looking for their own sources of food and places to live. Sometimes they end up in urban areas, parks or hiking trails.
Prevent problems with cougars
If you know cougars are active in your area, follow these tips to keep pets safe:
- Before letting dogs into your yard, turn on the lights and make some noise – check to make sure there aren’t any unexpected animals in your yard
- Keep dogs on leash and stick to well-lit areas when walking dogs at night – avoid dark, forested wildlife areas after sunset
- Keep cats indoors, or in secure outdoor enclosures – at minimum, make sure cats come in at night
What to do if you see a cougar
Although they are skilled predators, cougar attacks are rare. However, if you see a cougar in the wild or in the city, stay calm and follow these steps:
- Make yourself look big – stand tall, raise your arms and spread your legs
- Maintain eye contact and don’t turn your head – stay focused on the cougar
- Make loud noises – yell, clap your hands, use a bear bell, or bang things together
- Don’t leave until the cougar leaves – be sure the cougar has moved on before you leave
If you have small children or a dog, pick them up or keep them close in front of you. This may feel counter intuitive, but this way you can maintain control and face the cougar. A child or dog behind you may try to run away or divert your attention from the cougar. Act like you are bigger and stronger than the cougar so they will see you as a threat.
