Conservation officers were called to the outskirts of Port Hardy on Thursday after a man reported a cougar sighting in his yard.
The caller lives on Mayors Way and told local conservation officers he found the big cat sitting on his patio at around 7 a.m.
He was attempting to let his dogs out for their morning stretch when he noticed the cougar taking an interest, and even attempting to get at the dogs through a sliding glass door, despite trying to scare the animal.
Due to this behaviour, Jonathan Paquin of the North Island zone’s conservation office in Port McNeil said the decision was made to bring dogs to the scene and ensure the cougar was no longer in the residential area.
A volunteer houndsmen was called up to help track the cougar and the group did pick up a scent near the last known location before giving up the pursuit after an hour, as they were being led deeper into the wilderness.
Paquin says conservation officers haven’t been called to this particular location for a cougar sighting in the recent past, and if anyone else sees the animal they should call the conservation office as soon as possible.
BCCOS used tracking dogs to investigate a cougar conflict in Port Hardy this morning. COs responded after report of a cougar attempting to snatch a dog through a sliding glass window. pic.twitter.com/mBLpEvC8WE
— BC CO Service (@_BCCOS) December 21, 2017