Kelowna residents dealing with multiple cougar sightings

Since Friday, there have been several reports of cougar sightings around the Rutland area, with pictures of a sizeable wild cat sauntering through yards.

Residents of a Kelowna, B.C., neighbourhood are on alert following reports of multiple cougar sightings.

Since Friday, there have been several reports of cougar sightings around the Rutland area, with pictures of a sizeable wild cat sauntering through yards.

Today, residents said that Conservation Officers are in the area trying to trap the animal.

While they have yet to return calls, Conservation Officer Ken Owen said during an earlier cougar sighting that the cats are normally nocturnal and typically prey on their available food source within the areas they live. This diet can include primarily deer, which also live within the City of Kelowna.

“A cougar’s ability to travel long distances occasionally brings these cats into seemingly inappropriate areas, even places densely settled by humans. Such appearances are almost always brief, with the animal moving along quickly in its search of a suitable permanent home,” Owens said.

Whether that is the case with these sightings remains to be seen, given that they span a couple of days.

The British Columbia Ministry of Environment estimates the cougar population within B.C. to be approximately 7,000 animals. Even though cougars are seldom seen, the public should be aware they are present and at rare times travel through rural residential areas.

To report sightings or to obtain further information call the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.