Vancouver Island man injured protecting dog from cougar
A Nanaimo man who was working in the North Vancouver Island community of Woss sustained minor injuries following an encounter with a cougar in the community Thursday evening.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says the man was walking his dogs off-leash along a rural road when a cougar attacked one of the dogs.
"Gentleman was walking his two dogs and a cougar came out of the bush and went towards the gentleman’s dog," said conservation officer Christopher Hamlyn.
"The gentleman got between the dog and the cougar and took a swing at the cougar and the cougar swung back, and the gentleman suffered a minor scratch on his hand," he said.
Officers arrived in Woss an hour after the attack and continued their search for the cougar on Friday using tracking hounds.
"We searched for him this morning with some hounds and we’re going to be in the area all day today (Friday) and we’ll probably have the hounds out a couple more times today," said Hamlyn.
Officers believe the cougar could well be the same animal that was involved in another altercation earlier in the week.
"Another dog was attacked a little worse, so it’s not an isolated incident, it seems like this cougar is hanging around town," Hamlyn said.
The conservation officer says bystanders made contact with the cougar in that earlier encounter using some sort of pipe. Hounds were bought in after that event but were unable to track the cat at the time.
"We think it’s the same cat, we’re not 100 per cent sure," he said. "The guy’s dog yesterday was very lucky that (the owner) was there otherwise I don’t think the dog would be with us anymore, judging by what the victim told me."
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is reminding the public to keep their children and pets close and on a leash. Any cougar sightings should be reported to the Report all Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline which is 1-877-952-RAPP (7277).
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.