By Dominic Abassi

Cougar shot and killed on Nanaimo docks; believed to be same animal roaming Newcastle Island

Jul 18, 2018 | 1:34 PM

NANAIMO — A cougar, believed to be the same one prowling Newcastle Island for nearly two weeks, was shot and killed by Nanaimo RCMP.

Cst. Gary O’Brien said they received numerous reports of a cougar roaming the docks and fish cleaning station at the Nanaimo Yacht Club below Stewart Ave. around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 18.

He said when the cougar saw the officers, it jumped into the water and headed towards a pier with nearby condo units. That’s when officers made the decision to shoot the animal, which fell into the water after being shot.

O’Brien said it’s believed the animal had some interactions with people in the area and was showing no fear of humans. 

“Given everything that was transpiring, (officers) have to take into consideration the safety of the public. That’s what overrides any decision made. Based on what they saw they felt the most prudent decision was to neutralize the animal.”

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In a Facebook post, Darren Jenkins said “a cougar cornered my friend” on a dock at the yacht club.

On Tuesday, conservation officers set multiple traps on Newcastle Island in an attempt to live trap and relocate a cougar seen at least three times on the island since July 7.

Stuart Bates, acting Sgt. for the central island for the BC Conservation Officer Service, said the cougar shot was “most likely” the same one spotted on the small island.

Bates said killing the cougar was the outcome they were “trying hard to avoid,” but given the fact the big cat showed no fear around humans and came into close contact with a few people, RCMP had little choice.

In answer to people questioning why the animal had to be killed instead of tranquilized and relocated, Bates said Mounties don’t have tranquilizer guns.

“Even when you tranquilize an animal it can take 20 minutes before the drugs kick in. So even if I was there I would never have tranquilized a cougar next to water like that. The chances of him getting the dart and falling in the water are way too high and it can run a long way in 20 minutes,” Bates said.

He said himself and another officer retrieved the cougar’s body from the water late Wednesday morning.

Bates said they will leave the traps on Newcastle for a while to ensure there isn’t another cougar also lingering in the area.

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi