A cougar sighted in Red Deer early Friday in the Glendale subdivision?
A search by the RCMP turned up no conclusive proof after a resident reported seeing a cougar in the bushes near St. Teresa of Avila School at 190 Glendale Ave.
“Someone thought they spotted a cougar but nothing was found and there was nothing to substantiate it,” said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Kathe Deheer.
The reported sighting must be taken seriously. Cougars are no strangers to Red Deer and the Central Alberta region.
In Thursday’s Advocate, outdoor columnist Bob Scammell wrote that the cougar population in Alberta is out of control. The big cats, said Scammell, are showing up in areas where they are not normally seen.
The carnivore is apparently slowly migrating east from the protective confines of the West Country, likely being pushed out by human intrusion, and tempted by food further east, where the deer are abundant.
Scammell suggests the province needs to take measures to control the cougar populations. Control, of course, means adjusting hunting regulations, a key component the government uses to manage wildlife in Alberta that falls under the jurisdiction of the province’s Wildlife Act.
And while many condemn hunting, they should be reminded that human intrusion is a major cause of wildlife populations losing proportion.
The suspected cougar sighting should serve as a wakeup call to those who enjoy Red Deer’s trail systems.
Wildlife in urban parks generally don’t interact with humans, as long as the walkers and bicyclists mind their own business — and keep a distance from wildlife.
The City of Red Deer is reminding trail users that moose, cougars, deer and coyotes are among the wild creatures you might find within the city limits.
“Red Deerians are reminded to make safety a priority when using our parks,” said Ken Lehman, park planning and ecological expert. “We always recommend that the public use caution around wildlife. Being in the city, it’s easy to forget these are wild animals.”
The Red Deer River valley, lush with protective growth, offers a prime migration route for wildlife seeking safer havens from human intrusion. And so the area is full of wildlife.
Lehman is promoting education, urging people to understand wildlife habits. This doesn’t mean those using the trail systems should be in constant fear. Just enjoy the wildlife from a distance.
This time of the year demands extra vigilance; rutting season for deer and moose is approaching. It’s time for them to mate and with that foremost on their minds and the males, in particular, become aggressive, blinded by love.
This can translate into unpredictable behaviour, said Lehman. “As fall approaches, wildlife behaviours begin to change as animals begin preparing for winter. The likelihood of seeing or crossing paths with wildlife increases as animals actively prepare for winter and search out food for winter reserves.”
This time of the year offers a rare study on the habits of wildlife. Enjoy nature at its finest on those walking trails. But also take time to educate yourselves.
And don’t treat the sighting of a cougar as urban myth or an aberration. Far better to be safe than sorry, because they big cats have been seen in the city before.
Give them respect — and distance.
Rick Zemanek is an Advocate editor.