Two separate recent encounters involved a young cougar occurred at what's known as Jump Bridge, spanning the Nanaimo River south of Nanaimo Lakes. (Jenny Albright)

By Ian Holmes

cougar encounter

‘It felt like a horror movie:’ woman attacks cougar while trying to save dog at Nanaimo River

May 12, 2020 | 6:38 PM

NANAIMO — A woman came face-to-face with a cougar after the big cat attacked a small dog during an outing at the Nanaimo River.

The hair-raising encounter happened the evening of Saturday, May 9 on private forest property on a crossing known as Jump Bridge just north of South Forks Rd.

Jenny Albright responded with force after the young cougar mauled her friend’s chihuahua while they were day-camping with their children.

Editors Note: This story contains a graphic image of the dog involved in the altercation. Discretion is advised.

Albright, 38, picked up a large rock and threw it at the big cat as the off-leash dog squealed in pain.

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“I kicked it three times and then it swatted at me,” Albright said. “I backed up and (it) only got me with a little knick. Then I kicked him three more times in the face and he finally dropped the dog.”

Albright said the wounded dog ran from the bridge to the river, while the defiant cougar stood firm.

She said thankfully three people in the area heard the commotion and rushed to the scene.

“They stood by that bridge, made noise and shooed it away, while I walked up to the tent and started packing all of our stuff into my truck as fast as I could.”

Albright said she was acting on adrenaline.

“I was in shock for six or seven hours….the next day I couldn’t believe I did that,” Albright said as her voiced trembled with emotion.

Albright and dog owner Courtney Gould had spent the day at the river with their children, ages five to 12, and their four other dogs.

Albright said bystanders helped calm the kids down in a tent after the vicious attack.

Gould, 29, said her dog initially survived and received veterinary care, but passed away the next evening due to severe head trauma.

Gould’s Chihuahua Loco after receiving serious head wounds from a cougar at the Nanaimo River on Saturday, May 9. (Courtney Gould)

Gould said despite the loss of her dog, on her birthday no less, she’s fortunate none of the children were hurt.

“It felt like a horror movie and I couldn’t even believe it was happening, it happened all so fast, just in the blink of an eye,” Gould said.

It’s believed this was not the first time the cougar had an encounter with another dog in the same area.

Conservation officer Sgt. Stuart Bates said another dog was uninjured after it was briefly engaged with a young cougar the Saturday prior.

Bates said they are currently looking for the cougar, which appears to be on its own. He said the animal should not be away from its mother, but for whatever reason is.

“It’s unable to fend for itself, the risk to the public certainly went up, especially in an area that’s heavily recreated by people.”

Bates said they will look into posting warning signs in the area if the animal can’t be found.

“Hopefully organizations such as yourself can get the word out a lot faster than I can.”

He said bait won’t be placed since it would attract wildlife to a heavily frequented area.

Bates said if anyone come across a cougar don’t scream, don’t run, make yourself look as big as possible, look it in the eye and slowly back away while facing it.

Human-wildlife interactions impacting public safety should be reported to the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes