Lauren Boothby
A deer was found dead in the yard of a Esquimalt home late Friday afternoon, said to be killed by a cougar.
Victoria police confirmed there was evidence a cougar was responsible, but the cougar has not yet been seen.
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Bowen Osoko, spokesperson for the Victoria Police Department, said although it isn’t certain, it’s better to take precautions in this situation.
“The reality is that it’s a wild animal in an urban environment. Because no one’s seen an actual cougar, we can’t confirm it,” he said. “It’s always better to err on the side of caution.”
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And there is reason to suspect it could be a cougar rather than another large animal. According to Osoko, police had to shoot a cougar not far from this location only a few months ago.
“Usually they’re young male cougars that are looking to expand their territory,” he said. “Unfortunately, there is often a conflict between people living in those areas and wild animals.”
Police are urging people to keep their children and pets indoors until the cougar has been located.
