Conservation officers give stray cougar a reprieve
PENTICTON – A wild cat discovered in a tree in Penticton’s Lakeside Rotary Park Wednesday morning used up one its nine lives, as far as the conservation authorities are concerned.
The young cougar was discovered by a Penticton resident walking his dog by the Peach, May 27. Both conservation officers and the RCMP attended, Barb Leslie with the B.C. Conservation Service says.
Leslie called the cat “sub adult” adding a decision was made to tranquillize the cougar because of its location. It was then brought to the conservation office.
Further discussions with the wildlife branch and the provincial veterinarian ensued over what the cougar’s fate would be.
“It’s very unusual for us to relocate a cougar, but given the circumstances of not having received any complaints of this cougar causing problems and it was just in the downtown core, officers did relocate it just inside what we believe is its home range a short distance away,” Leslie says.
She says it isn't unusual to see wildlife close to the city especially in treed gullies and fringe areas.
“Why this one was seen downtown during the daytime, we don’t know, but given there was no evidence of bad behaviour the decision was made to relocate it."
To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
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39 responses
I would freak out if I saw this cat they are awesome I love all animals it is a real shame that it was in the city probably got forced there by new development most idiots just want to kill kill kill they are the one’s that should be re located!
Amy Chaney You are absolutely right!We move into their territory and then have conniptions when they don’t want to move out–usually because there is nowhere for them to go.
I’m happy they relocated the Cougar instead of killing it.If anyone has been keeping tabs on this sort of thing they would know there are way to many trigger happy Wildlife Officials out there particularly in Oregon, USA.Relocating the cat is the very best alternative to what could have happened.This was a youngster inexperienced as to what happens to big cats around humans. Who ever made the decision to tranquilize and relocate the young cat—-thank you.Hope you moved him/her to a spot well away from humans.
Next time anyone complains about wildlife being a nuisance, just remind them that we destroyed their homes to make ours.
I so so agree with you Janis.
You people who have taken down their habitats and due to pesticides destroyed their food line~~did you expect anything else? I stand with the wild!
Thank you, thank you , thank you from the bottom of my heart for relocating it and not killing this beautiful creature.
I agree Janis atleast they didn’t kill the cougar!
BAD BEHAVIOR!Who thinks up this stuff?It’s a WILD ANIMAL and you are pushing it out of it’s home, how do you consider that bad behavior? At least some trigger happy idiot didn’t kill it…..
What else would they do..Kill it..
LOL…a stray cougar. Where did he stray from?
Glad this cat was relocated instead of just being put down.
I am glad they did not kill it.People must learn to live with wildlife, as there is no place for them to go anymore.learn about wild please.
In Brazil, the Panthers are called ounces. She is one of four big cats. The others are: Tiger, Lion and Leopard. The forest police always use tranquilizers and relocate the animals. Kill the panther is not an option. I can not understand why developed countries like USA and Canada casually kill cougars and bears rather than relocate them. It seems to me grudgingly.
HUMANS HAVE NO RESPECTFOR NATUREAT ALL. WE TAKEN AWAY IT’S PLACE TO LIVEAND THEN WEKILL THEM IF IT COMES BACK TO WHERE IT LIVED. WHO IS STUPID HERE. WE ARE ALREADY PAYING THE PRICE FOR NOT TAKING CARE OF THIS PLANET. AND WE ARE DUMB ENOUGH TO KEEP RIGHT ON GOINGTHINKING WE ARE MORE IMPORTANT. ALL OF WHAT GOD CREATED IS IMPORTANT ANDHE SAID WE ARE THE SHEPARDS. AND WE HAVE FAILED.IM SURE GOD HANGS HIS HEAD AT WHAT WE HAVE DONE.
They HAVE to ley him live! It’s our fault- not his, thathe is in trouble.
I agree with you Janis. Humans have got to stop expanding and going into wildlife domain. They wind up getting the animal killed for no reason, other then, I want to live here.
morons can, t understand nature and are unable to respect it.
I fully agree, people misunderstand more and more natural life.
well thankfully this cougar did not try to harm any one if it had it would have been put down but because it did not they relocated it, and for all you to say that we should not live where they live as expend and create more humans what would you have us do, maybe we should do as china did and make it a one child family for a time, have women sterilized after the first child and while china did not go that far maybe it is not such a bad idea when you think about the jobs that are not there just think what it going to be like in 20yrs.
everything you says Janis is the best.
No!the humans are too close to the cougars home, so its only right that the cougar’s can be allowed into their own territory. Humans don’t like it then they should move out.
That action was only right. It has a right to roam on what was once their land.Humans who inhabitate wildlife area must expect wildlife in them.
Thank God they didn’t kill the innocent cougar!
Glad they relocated the cat rather than kill it.They are beautiful.They were there first – we have to stop destroying their habitat.
So happy to hear it. Just an animal looking for food in what used to be his natural habitat.
WOW
Did it cross anyone’s mind, it might be someone’s pet that got lose, or was just released because it was unwanted now. You know how people are that don’t want a pet anymore.
God save us from itchy fingered gun authorities that can’t wait to find an excuse to murder an innocent animal.
It’s a shame to be afraid of an animal whose home we have taken.Probably far less dangerous than some people you are likely to encounter while walking alone.
bad behaviour?youve got to be kidding.Its a cougar , not a person, there is NO bad behaviour..please get real.
It’s Crazy that all these people want to live where wildlife use to and still should thrive and then build big homes and parks and Malls and then want to kill or relocate the wild life……….Humans you relocate.
Well done and good call I wish that I lived in a city like this here it’s kill kill anything that moves thank you xo.
Don’t live where wildlife lives……….MOVE!
Remember to not freak out over the unusual.You are still far more likely to be injured in your house or car than by any wild animal, at any place on earth!
wow that’s just to close to home,,10 minutes walk.First I have heard of a cougar coming into this area.Glad everything went okay for the cougar and no one was hurt.
good call, intelligent cat, curious, won’t be back soon I bet… and hope… and believe…
I am glad that it wasn’t harmed.
Well that is fine as long as next time it comes into town it does not hurt anyone like this time but how are the chances of that happening twice. Makes me nervous to walk there now for sure.