Cougar sighting in east Penticton

PENTICTON – A recent cougar sighting has the conservation office reminding residents to be diligent with pets and attractants to reduce the potential of conflict between visiting wildlife and residents in Penticton.

Penticton Conservation Officer Dave Cox’s warning comes on the heels of a cougar sighting in the Adams Crescent and Ridgedale Avenue area of the city yesterday morning, Oct. 13. Cox says an Adams Crescent resident called to report seeing the animal on a walking path behind the their house yesterday. He told Cox a warning sign had been placed on the path to inform users of the cougar’s presence.

Cox says no other reports have been received from that area, indicating the cougar is an ongoing problem. He says the conservation office did not respond to the call, because there were no conflicts reported.

Seven cougar reports have been received by the Penticton office for the region since the beginning of October, including a couple of cougar sightings in Summerland.

Cox says cooler temperatures are triggering a move to winter habitat amongst wild animals, resulting in them moving closer to the valley bottom and urban areas.

He is urging residents to continue reporting sightings so the conservation office can be made aware of the animal’s presence and respond accordingly.

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.