By Sandra McCulloch, timescolonist.com
February 28, 2011
Victoria, B.C. - A cougar sighting in Esquimalt Monday afternoon prompted an elementary school to taking precautions before sending children home for the day.
Meanwhile, a provincial conservation officer is urging parents in the area to keep an eye on small children and pets.
Scott Thomas, principal of Macaulay Elementary School, sent an email to parents saying the school was notified of the sighting at Work Point at 2:40 p.m., eight minutes before the school was to let out for the day.
“Today we were able to connect all students who were walking home after school with their parents/guardians,” Scott said in the email.
He asked parents to ensure their children get safely to and from school while the cougar is in the area.
Two witnesses called the military police at CFB Esquimalt to report seeing the cougar at Work Point, said Peter Pauwels, a conservation officer with the B.C. Conservation Service.
A cougar was also spotted in the area a few days ago, he said.
The military haven’t asked the B.C. Conservation Service for assistance, he added, so conservation officers haven’t been involved.
“Because it’s on military property, we let them make the decision on when they want our help,” Pauwels said.
“At this point, they’re not requesting our involvement.”
It’s unlikely anyway that conservation officers would track or trap the cougar, he said. “There’s not a whole lot we can do because the only way we can catch this thing is with hounds, and an area like that is not that easy to hunt in.
“We’d have to have a situation where the cougar is staying there for a prolonged period of time and we’re getting lots of good fresh sightings.”
Cougars can be dangerous, and anyone who sees one should not approach it or run away, said Pauwels.
“Small children shouldn’t be outside playing by themselves,” he said. “Cougars are most active between dusk and dawn. Avoid going to areas thick with bush.”
Anyone who spots the cougar should call the conservation service at 1-800-663-9453.
http://www.timescolonist.com/Esquimalt+cougar+sighting+prompts+school+warning/4362461/story.html
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