Cougar stalks couple hiking Skaha Bluffs near Penticton
PENTICTON – A couple hiking the Skaha Bluffs had an usettling encounter with wildlife earlier this week.
Penticton RCMP received a call from a man around 2:20 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, after the man and his wife encountered a cougar while hiking in the Skaha Bluffs area.
The man told police the cougar was stalking the pair, jumping right behind them and their two small dogs before retreating.
Police told the couple to make lots of noise and to make their way back to the parking lot.
“Members attended the Bluffs and hiked into the couple, who were extremely relieved to see them,” RCMP media spokesman Rick Dellebuur says.
He adds police did not witness the cougar themselves as they escorted the couple back to their vehicle.
The Penticton Conservation service was also advised of the incident, Dellebuur says, adding police responded because of the potential threat to public safety.
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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