The BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) has paused efforts to capture the cougar that is currently residing on Bowen Island.
BCCOS recently responded to a livestock predation event on the Island; attending the site, conducting an assessment, and confirming the livestock had been killed by a cougar. In accordance with provincial guidelines, BCCOS then set traps and spent several nights attempting to capture the animal. Despite these efforts, the cougar was not captured.
Cougars are highly mobile, elusive animals and are particularly difficult to trap in a large, forested environment such as Bowen Island. Continued trapping efforts require substantial resources, and officers were required to attend to priorities elsewhere. BCCOS has indicated it will respond again if additional livestock losses occur.
BCCOS has also received reports of up to two bears on the Island and has advised that there is currently no public safety concern. Relocating the cougar and bears from the Island is not being considered.
At a recent Living with Wildlife event hosted by Bowen Island Municipality, wildlife professionals and BCCOS shared the following key takeaways:
- Bowen Island should expect increasing wildlife presence, including predators, over the coming decades.
- The abundant deer population is likely the main reason the cougar has remained on the island.
- Removing individual predators does not solve underlying conditions if prey and attractants remain.
- Visiting predators are more likely to move on if we avoid providing them with food.
- BC Conservation Officer Service strongly encourages public reporting of wildlife sightings and incidents on the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277
- Intervention is driven primarily by public safety risk and aggressive behaviour – not only by an animal’s presence or habituation.
The best way to reduce conflict is to remove opportunities that attract or support wildlife around homes and farms. Residents are encouraged to secure garbage and compost, harvest fruit promptly, and ensure livestock, poultry, and other attractants are protected with appropriate fencing and enclosures. These actions help protect people, pets, livestock, and wildlife.
Residents are also encouraged to report cougar, bear, and other significant wildlife observations to the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-877-952-7277. Timely reporting helps conservation officers monitor wildlife activity and respond when necessary.
The Municipality will continue to work with provincial agencies and share updates as new information becomes available.
Questions? Contact Carla Skuce, Manager of Environment & Parks Planning at 604-947-4255 ext. 244 or cskuce@bimbc.ca.