A mama cougar and at least two cubs are hanging out in Highlands.
Sam Martin captured the two youngsters on video after the older cougar stopped him in his tracks while cycling near Millstream Road on Jan. 29 around 1:30 in the afternoon. The mom scurried off but a cub lingered.
“As soon as I realized what I was seeing, I stopped my bike and started making noise. One of the cubs kept looking at me. I couldn't resist pulling out my camera to record before making more noise,” he told the Goldstream Gazette. “Finally, that cub was deterred, only for another to enter the frame from the right and follow the first cub. I kept making noise, staying where I was, and allowed them plenty of time to catch up with mom.”
Martin followed best practices, keeping calm, having the cat in view and ensuring the animal had an avenue of escape. He allowed time for them to catch up before carrying on carefully with his day.
“After I while, I carried on, calling out and swinging while riding my bike, especially on blind hills and corners,” Martin said. “It's awesome to see that they were cautious of humans.”
Other tips from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service include responding if a cougar shows interest or aggression – a rare prospect. Maintain eye contact with the cougar, show your teeth and make loud noise. Use sticks or rocks as weapons and if a cougar attacks, fight back. Learn more online at www2.gov.bc.ca.
