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LANGFORD -- Conservation Officer Peter Pauwels is used to crossing paths with cougars. He's dealt with more than 100 over the past 15 years. But Pauwels has never seen anything like this summer. "On southern Vancouver Island there's a big increase in sightings, maybe double" he says.
There have been 150 reported sightings since April 1st. Last year over that same period there were only 60. "They're being seen where you wouldn't expect, Sidney, the Saanich Peninsula" says Pauwels.
Shelly Davis and her husband can back that up, after taking video of a mother cougar strolling through their yard last month in Sooke with her cub.
A week earlier, Erin Laberge was cycling to work in Nanaimo when she was chased by a cougar.
But despite the skyrocketing number of cougar sightings in and around Vancouver Island communities this summer, Pauwels says an attack is still very unlikely. There hasn't been one in the Capital Region since 1985. He says attacks are more likely in wilderness areas because the big cats usually aren't as comfortable or as hungry in town. "If they get into areas like that they want to leave, and there's an abundance of deer."
And the flourishing urban deer population is likely what's bringing the cougars to town in the first place. "We do have a strong deer population, and where the game goes those kind of predators follow" says Saanich Police Sgt. Dean Jantzen.
If you see a cougar the advice is to make eye contact and put on a show of force. Intimidate the animal by yelling and waving your arms in the air. If you're in a remote area or park try to keep your kids surrounded. "If you're hiking make sure children are in the middle of the pack, not running out front or lagging behind" says Pauwels.
The best cougar advice when you're out enjoying our beautiful island? Maybe an old quote:
"Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised."
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