“Last winter was warm enough that a female and her cubs lived in a culvert across from the Summerland yacht club and ate garbage.” Cougars are of increasing concern because prey opportunities near urban areas are expanding and human activities are spreading farther into natural areas.


“I’m more worried about cougars than bears because they are ‘dead quiet’,” Kirk said.


Cougars are stalkers and usually approach from behind.


As with bears, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and not to wear earphones, ear plugs or anything else that deadens surrounding sounds.


Tracks, scratches on trees and caches (kill covered in dirt and debris)are signs of recent cougar activity.


Kirk told of a Kaleden resident who found a partially covered deer carcass in his driveway when he came home from work. He removed the carcass dumping it some distance away only to find it returned to his driveway the next day. This time he dumped it even farther


away.


The following day he came home to find the cougar on his front porch with a paw across the carcass. “The conservation officer had to shoot it,” Kirk said.


She advises to never approach a cougar, never turn your back and never run.


Pick up children because if they run, it may trigger an attack. If the cougar is aggressive, act as large and intimidating as possible. Grab sticks, tools, anything handy and use bear spray.


And if the cougar actually attacks, fight like hell.


Deer are an increasing problem for growers and urban dwellers alike. “They are prey and it’s important to keep reminding them of that fact,” Kirk said.


Deer prosper in locations where there are no predators and they have food and can procreate.


“Once they find safe haven, they’ll defend it and become dangerous to humans,” Kirk said.


She recommends using anything that makes noise and bear spray. Vinegar or bleach and water in a


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high-powered squirt gun is another technique.


“The children in your family will be eager to help,” Kirk joked. Deer management options include keeping a brush free buffer around the perimeter of property, keeping attractants such as fallen fruit to a minimum and erecting a high fence. The basic idea of fencing is simple, but fences can be fraught with problems.


Deer have been known to break


their necks on high fences or become caught inside making them bait for predators.


Interested in a tasty meal of venison and fresh fruit, bears can use the deer fencing as a ladder. “It’s important not to prevent access of any wildlife to important areas such as water sources,” Kirk said.


For information about wildlife visit www.wildsafebc.com or contact Kirk at zkirk@rdos.bc.ca.


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