WEYBURN - A nine-year-old girl reported encountering a cougar while playing with friends near the Kinsmen Park in Weyburn on April 30.
Her mom, Amanda Gutheil, said her daughter, Azlynne, was playing with friends at the park, and was scouring around the area for pine cones. Amanda was there with her 19-month-old baby at a picnic table watching the kids play.
The playground is located near Tom Hart Drive and 18th Street on the eastern side of the city.
“She was going to go down one back alley when she saw a really big cat. As she got closer, she could see it was really big,” said Amanda. “Thankfully she watches survivor videos, and she started to back away slowly. Her friends wanted to run away, but she told them no, it might chase them if they did that.”
They backed away slowly, and once she was near the playground, she ran back to her mom, very scared. “It was just laying there, watching her, and it growled at her,” said Amanda. “I’ve never seen her that scared before. She was just sweating.”
She noted her friends questioned her about what kind of animal it was, but Azlynne knows her animals, said her mom, and was very certain this was a cougar. “She said it’s bigger than my coffee table, and that’s a pretty good size,” added Amanda.
Amanda called the police about her daughter’s sighting, and officers came to look over the area, but didn’t find anything.
The police notified Conservation officer Lindsey Leko, who was out of town at the time.
Leko said he hasn’t been able to confirm if it was actually a cougar, as no sign of the animal was found in the area, but noted the girl did act correctly by slowly backing away from the animal.
“If you encounter a wild animal, maintain your wits about you. Back away slowly and maintain eye contact,” said Leko.
He suggested that if anyone does see a cougar, they should call the Conservation tips line, which acts like a 911 call for wildlife, and there will be an immediate response.
The tips number is 1-800-667-7561, and it’s manned 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
If anyone sees a cougar and takes a photo or video with their phone, or has security camera footage, that would assist the Conservation officers as they investigate the matter, said Leko, along with any additional details about the animal they might remember.
Earlier this year, a cougar was caught on camera at Woodlawn Regional Park in Estevan.
