Despite many reports of cougar activity around the province, B.C.’s Ministry of Environment says the wild cats aren’t crossing paths with humans more than they have in other years.
This year, the ministry received 1,362 cougar complaints between April and September 7 — the period in which cougar sightings are most frequent.
Last year, 1,854 cougar sightings were reported, and the year before 2,242 complaints were logged. So far 59 cougars have been put down across the province, with conservation officers doing the bulk of the killing.
Late this summer, two cougars were reported killed in the Columbia Valley: one in Edgewater and one in Fairmont. Both had attacked or killed livestock and pets.
