The cougar sighting is the fourth previously 10 days within the space, which an Alberta Parks official mentioned is “fairly excessive.”
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Alberta Parks obtained studies from a Calgary couple a few shut encounter with a cougar west of the town as a warning in regards to the animal stays in components of the Kananaskis area.
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John Paczkowski, human wildlife coexistence chief for Kananaskis Nation with Alberta Parks, mentioned his group obtained studies from the couple saying they’d the shut encounter this previous Sunday. The Calgary couple had been strolling close to the Blackshale Bridge in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park after they heard a hissing, howling kind sound.
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They noticed two lynx, then turned to see a Cougar crouching below a close-by tree.
“They continued to start out leaving the realm. They mentioned the cougar hissed on the group and adopted them and obtained as shut as 20 or 30 toes,” Paczkowski mentioned. “They walked again to the street and so they drove again to their automobile.”
Paczkowski mentioned the couple ready their bear spray however ended up not utilizing it. He mentioned the encounter ended with no accidents or contact with the animal.
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The shut encounter comes as Alberta Parks posted a cougar alert throughout components of Kananaskis nation after a number of sightings of the animal within the Canmore space.
the warning, posted on-line, is dated to be efficient from final Sunday till additional discover. Alberta Parks posted the warning over Bow Valley Provincial Park, Cougar Creek Path, Horseshoe Loop Path, Montane Traverse Path and surrounding areas.
4 cougar sightings in 10 days is ‘pretty excessive’
Paczkowski mentioned that cougar sightings or encounters are usually not essentially on the rise, however famous that this time of 12 months is often essentially the most worrying for meals, resulting in extra sightings. He mentioned encounters with the large cats usually contain individuals with canine.
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“Between official studies, and second hand studies and social media posts, there are about 4 sightings round Canmore,” Paczowski mentioned. “Seeing a cougar is uncommon, so to have 4 in the middle of 10 days is fairly excessive.”
He mentioned he didn’t imagine Sunday’s encounter was associated to the opposite current sightings. One other encounter was reported to Alberta Parks on Tuesday, however particulars weren’t but obtainable.
Alberta Parks recommends that guests to the realm journey in teams and make lots of noise. They need to remember and looking out for indicators of cougars, and pets needs to be stored on a leash. All cougar sightings should be reported to 403-591-7755.
dshort@postmedia.com
