Any steak specials? RCMP dashcam catches cougar in front of Banff grocery store

Police immediately reported the sighting to wildlife officials with Banff National Park.

“Staff went out and forward-tracked the animal and later the next day we were able to back-track it,” said Bill Hunt, manager of resource conservation with Banff National Park. “It didn’t come across any garbage or anything that would give it a food reward.

“So, as soon as it got back out of town, it carried along through the wildlife corridor.”

Cougars are known to frequent wildlife corridors around Banff.

Officials said it’s concerning anytime a carnivore ventures into the townsite.

“We try to discourage that as much as possible,” said Hunt, who notes they are hoping the cougar doesn’t return. “I am sure this happens several times a year and goes completely undetected.

“Cougars can be pretty elusive so they are hard to spot.”

Coming across a cougar is quite different than encountering a bear, he said.

People should makes themselves look big, try to intimidate the animal, grab pets or small children and throw sticks or rocks.

Officials also ask that anyone spotting a cougar report it immediately, so wildlife officers can track it and figure out what it was doing in town.

In this cat’s case, Hunt said “it seemed like he or she just tried a shortcut that didn’t work.”

See the clip from the Banff RCMP video here: http://bit.ly/2BkDIQl

— By Colette Derworiz in Edmonton

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Any steak specials? RCMP dashcam catches cougar in front of Banff grocery store

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