ESTEVAN - A cougar was recently caught on a trail camera in a forested area southwest of Estevan.
A local bowhunter went to check his equipment last week when he found rather surprising pictures dating Aug. 6. The fully grown cat was passing by the camera and even sat in front of it for a picture at 7:16 p.m.
Pictures are something rather exclusive to see, as cougars very rarely get spotted or photographed during the day. They are nocturnal animals, so sightings are more likely at night or in the early morning.
The hunter estimated the cougar has a full, mature chest and looked like it was about four years old, but not huge.
Reports of cougar or cougar traces have come from the public several times in 2022. A cougar was caught by another game camera at Woodlawn Regional Park in March, and later people shared further sightings of cougar prints or kills in the area.
The Mercury reached out to the Government of Saskatchewan for comments about the situation. In their response, the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety said it seems that this cougar is a part of the local environment now.
"Conservation officers remind people that wildlife is a natural part of the landscape in Saskatchewan and should always be given space and respect.
"A cougar has made the Souris River Valley south of Estevan part of its home range. Cougars are a natural part of the landscape and, along with other wildlife, use river valleys as habitat and natural travel corridors. The cougar is displaying typical behaviour as it is avoiding people and taking only wild game as prey," the ministry said.
Individual cougars have a large territory. The ones sighted are often patrolling their territory or are juveniles looking for their own territory. Cougars are solitary animals unless they are mating or are a mother with cubs. Kittens stay with their mother for around two years.
Cougars are protected wildlife in Saskatchewan, but people do have the right to protect themselves and their property if an animal is a threat. A cougar's diet consists mainly of deer, though they also eat smaller animals such as coyotes, porcupines and raccoons.
The Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety noted that cougar/human conflicts are rare, as the animals are generally shy and wary of humans. However, residents do need to be aware of their existence in the area and practice caution and safety when outdoors.
"Be aware of your surroundings, make noise while hiking to avoid surprise encounters and keep pets on a leash," the ministry recommended.
If you have an aggressive encounter with wildlife, and/or if public safety is at risk, call the Turn in Poachers and Polluters (TIPP) line at 1-800-667-7561 or from your SaskTel cell phone at #5555. To report concerns about nuisance wildlife, contact the Ministry of Environment's Inquiry Centre at 1-800-567-4224 or by email at centre.inquiry@gov.sk.ca.
More information about wildlife safety is available at the Government of Saskatchewan website.
